Andrew Strauss has urged England to start the international summer by reminding the public they are still a very capable cricket side in the opening Test against West Indies.

Since winning the Ashes in style back in 2005 with a series of stunning displays which galvanised the nation, England have struggled to match those standards and start this summer on a low ebb after a winter of despair and disappointment.

Having failed miserably in both the Champions Trophy and the World Cup and suffered the humiliation of an Ashes series whitewash during the winter, the public's confidence in England's cricket team has been tested.

Only a series of eye-catching displays against a West Indies team seemingly in disarray can restore that confidence and Strauss is determined to set the right tone, even if the participation of key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff remains in doubt because of an ankle injury.

''The public are entitled to see English cricket being played in the way that we have done over the last few years and that means enjoying each other's success and going out there and providing a good, positive attitude and playing good, attacking cricket,'' said Strauss.

''That has been the basis for our success over a long period of time and there's no reason to change that. We've got the players in place and it's important we recognise, and other people recognise, we're a very good Test side.

''What's gone on in the winter has gone and it's important we learn the lessons from that and we challenge ourselves to improve. This is the start of that process - if the guys aren't motivated and excited for this Test match they never will be.''

Just in case any members of the public had forgotten, England are currently ranked second in the world behind Australia, although quite a long way behind judging by this winter's encounters.

But difficult as the winter campaigns were in all forms of cricket, Strauss believes the healing process begins here and they need to set the tone with their performance at Lord's over the next week.

Strauss, filling in for injured captain Michael Vaughan, said: ''What became clear during the winter is that Australia are a long way ahead at the moment and it became clear to us that we've got a long way to go if we want to reach and surpass those standards.

''That's got to be our long-term goal so we need to put a series of objectives in place to reach that standard and this is the start of that process.

''We need that intent to go out and win Test matches and when this England side has been at it's best, that's what we've had.

"Looking forward to the future, if we want to become the best side in the world we need that intent every time we play and at all times when we are playing.''