England captain Andrew Strauss is aiming to complete four consecutive Ashes series victories over Australia with wins at home in 2013 and again on the return leg in 2013-14.

"Playing in back-to-back Ashes series would be a realistic goal," Strauss told BBC radio on Thursday. "But I'm not going to say that is definitely what is going to happen.

"There's a lot of cricket to be played between now and then. We will see where we are in 12 months, then another 12 months and go from there."

Strauss, 34, captained England to victory at home in 2009 and away in 2010-11.

The best Ashes captain's record of the modern era is held by another Middlesex player, Mike Brearley, who led England to wins in 1977 and 1978-9 then completed a hat-trick when he took over from Ian Botham in 1981.

England, which took over from India as the world's top-ranked side this year, meets Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month and travels to Sri Lanka in March.

"I'm still motivated and excited about the challenges we have got ahead of us," Strauss said. "As long as I'm motivated and playing well and feel like there is still space in the side for me then I want to continue."

Reuters

(China Daily 12/24/2011 page15)