Andrew Strauss: We were absolutely determined to win against Pakistan

The relief Andrew Strauss felt was obvious. You could see it in his smile and hear it in his voice. The least-loved series has finally come to an end, England winning the final match by 121 runs. When the last wicket fell England celebrated as though they had won a major trophy, not a tinpot cup for yet another one-day series at the end of a long summer.

This match mattered, to the players and to the supporters who filled the Rose Bowl, their roars still echoing around the rafters long after the final ball had been bowled. When Strauss left his post-match press conference he was treated to an ovation from the fans waiting outside. After everything that has happened these last few weeks there was more than the series at stake last night. England were motivated by stronger fuel than the simple desire to win their sixth straight rubber. Asked by one mischievous journalist if he had had "nightmare visions" of Pakistan lifting the trophy, Strauss paused, chuckled and admitted that actually yes, he had. Typically it was the kind of question he would have been too diplomatic to answer.

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