CRICKET: England's stand-in captain Andrew Strauss is looking for a vastly-improved performance against Pakistan today from their previous appearance at Headingley.

Strauss trudged away from Headingley a month ago having just presided over a humiliating 5-0 series whitewash by Sri Lanka. But fortunes have changed after their emphatic victory in the second Test at Old Trafford.

England were understandably buoyant in their preparations, having brushed Pakistan aside within three days on Old Trafford's bouncy wicket - with Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar claiming 19 wickets between them.

But Strauss will stress the need to maintain the standards they set at Old Trafford if they are to claim the victory over the next five days, which would complete a series win with a Test to spare.

He explained: "I think we're all in a slightly better frame of mind for this Test, but I'm always wary about the match after games like that because it's easy psychologically to take your foot off the gas a little bit."

This Test could also be England's last opportunity to play a Pakistan side seriously weakened by injuries with fast bowlers Mohammad Asif (elbow) and Shoaib Akhtar (ankle) lined up for possible recalls at The Oval.