• Sri Lanka v England 2011-12

Trott backs Strauss to remain Test captain

Andrew Strauss is in desperate need of some runs © Getty Images

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Under-pressure England captain Andrew Strauss has been backed to rediscover his form, with Jonathan Trott blaming the media for 'highlighting' his poor run.

A poor series with the bat against Pakistan in the UAE and scores of 26 and 27 in the recent first Test defeat to Sri Lanka have led some to question whether the opener will lead his country for much longer.

Strauss has only made one century in 48 innings - against Australia in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane in November 2010 - and his struggles with the bat are now being accentuated due to the team's recent struggles on the subcontinent.

Following England's 75-run loss to Sri Lanka, Strauss deflected questions when asked about his position, refusing to even consider the prospect of stepping down as skipper.

Trott has leapt to Strauss' defence, reflecting on the situation Alastair Cook found himself in two years ago when he could not buy a run. Cook was under intense pressure but then amassed 766 runs during England's 3-1 Ashes triumph in 2010-11.

"Every player goes through ups and downs," said Trott. "When someone is not scoring as many runs as they would like, or expect of themselves, it is always highlighted by you guys [the media].

"I'm sure it will have a similar effect as it did when Alastair Cook came through his little slump. I'm surprised you guys haven't learned your lesson from that."

He told BBC's Sportsweek: "Andrew Strauss is our captain and he'll always be my captain as I see it. Everyone is 100% behind him. He's a fantastic leader and there is no doubt in my mind he's our captain. I don't see anyone else captaining England - well, not for a couple of years."

Finn echoed Trott's support for Strauss, the pace bowler insisting the 35-year-old's barren run will soon come to an end.

"I don't think there's any question that he won't be in charge throughout the summer and beyond," he said. "He's a great captain, everyone here's backing him and this is something that just hasn't come up within the team because no one in the team believes it's valid. Straussy will score runs and that's that.

"Straussy leads from the front. He's an exceptional leader, he's a levelling person. When we have our highs we don't ride them too high and when we have our lows we don't ride them too low. And that's what a great captain does I think."

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