There's a doubt in Strauss' mind, says Zaheer Khan

India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan said that England captain Andrew Strauss has sent a wrong message by turning up for Somerset against India in a warm-up game in Taunton. Strauss made 78 on a flat track Friday but Zaheer feels that England captain will surely be in trouble in the first Test at Lord's starting Thursday.


Zaheer Khan

Zaheer has a great record against the southpaw, getting him out four times out of six during the 2007 series and almost got Strauss lbw for 20 here during the warm-up game. "The fact that Andrew Strauss is here playing in this practice game says it all. There is definitely that element of doubt in his mind and he has given me that edge now going into the series," Zaheer said.

"A guy who wants to come and face a particular bowler who he knows is troubling him is in itself a sign. I feel that as a captain it is not a positive move for someone who is going to lead England. He has shown the opponent exactly what it is he is thinking," Zaheer was quoted as saying by The Mirror.

Zaheer said there was no pressure on India to prove anything. He feels if India can play good cricket they can win the series "There is no burden on our team to prove anything. If we play good cricket we will win matches and then everything else will take care of itself. I've got confidence from the previous tours I've had here as well as the county season I played, which makes me familiar with conditions," Zaheer said.

However, the jellybean incident of 2007 is still fresh in Zaheer's mind. Ian Bell tossed a few jellybeans from short leg towards him when was batting in the Trent Bridge Test. "In the last series you could see how hurt they were when the whole jellybean thing happened because they lost the series.

It is up to them how far they want to push it and whether they want to cross the line or not. I am very clear, I want to play the game in the right spirit and I don't think by doing that they had shown the right spirit of the game. Zaheer is also staring at a personal milestone as he is 10 wickets closer to his target of 300 Test scalps.u00a0