Strauss hails England's big hitters for ensuring Champions Trophy semi-final entry India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has hailed his big-hitters as the team entered the Champions Trophy semi-finals. After 12 sixes were belted in the 22-run defeat of South Africa, Strauss said: "That's the best I have ever seen England bat." After losing six of seven one- dayers against Australia, England has now beaten the Aussies, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the space of a week. "Owais Shah played a gem of a knock and Eoin Morgan showed his ability. We were down in confidence after losing to Australia. But we came here determined to show what we can do. We weren't going to die wondering. We can play all the shots but sometimes our mindset isn't right. We don't loosen the shackles enough," The Sun quoted Strauss, as saying.