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'I want to lead from the front with my performances'

MH: Even though you trounced the Poms over here, it’s a different game in England. What’s the key to retaining the urn?

SS: I think we’ll take 20 wickets with the bowlers we’ve got. It’s our batsmen that are going to be crucial for us to win games over there. We’re really going to have to play the swinging ball well. If we do that I think we’ll come out on top.

MH: Who are the danger men in the England team?
SS: Anderson and Broad. They’re quality performers, particularly in English conditions. If we can give them as little as possible, we’ll go a long way to winning.

MH: Those guys are also two of the biggest sledgers in the England team, right?
SS Anderson says a little bit here and there. But it’s all good. It can be quite funny. It’s nice to get into a contest on the field.

MH: You’re obviously going to be a pivotal player given your recent form. How do you explain your recent success?
SS: My routines have been spot on. I know how to train. I know what I need to do before a game to get myself physically and mentally right. And when I’m out in the middle I’ve got more patience now. I’m much better at absorbing pressure. That’s going to be the key in this series.

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MH: You got a taste of the captaincy this summer. What did you learn from the experience?
SS: When I found out I was going to be captain I told the boys, first and foremost, I want to lead from the front with my performances. I think that’s crucial when you’re captain, and I think I did that in the few games that I led the team.

MH: Back to the Ashes; it’s a long tour to be stuck with the same bunch of guys. Who would you least like to room with?
SS Well, we have our own rooms these days. If we didn’t it would be Mitchell Johnson – he’s an absolute pest. And if James Faulkner had been selected for the tour, it would be him.

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