Desperate times for Strauss

Captain Andrew Strauss hopes to see signs of desperation within England's squad when they hold meetings this week to try to find a winning formula for their one-day series against West Indies.

Sunday's emphatic six-wicket defeat in the Twenty20 match at the Queen's Park Oval has left England still searching for their first international victory of the winter.

"The reality is that success breeds success and we need to start winning, and when we start winning then the confidence will come with it," stressed Strauss.

The newly-installed captain claims he is determined to ensure England learn from their mistakes when they begin the five-match one-day series in Georgetown on Friday.

"I think the most important thing is that we are desperate enough to win that game," he added. "If we are desperate enough then we're going to put everything we've got on the line and if we do that we've got a decent chance of competing in this one-day series and hopefully winning it."

Strauss and coach Andy Flower have already set aside time for team meetings this week to prevent a repeat of Sunday's dismal display - England were dismissed for a lowly 121 - continuing in the one-day series.

England have already resigned themselves to being without all-rounder Andrew Flintoff for Friday's opener as he battles to regain fitness following his hip problems.

But Strauss, whose day was summed up when his shirt for Sunday's match was lost in transit and he had to wear Matt Prior's instead, will still demand a big improvement from the available players.

He said: "We've got to be very clear about our thinking. We need to have a couple of decent chats this week on how we're looking to play in different conditions and also how we're thinking and communicating out in the middle.

"It's one of those situations where you need to be calm, you need to take pressure off the players and allow them to go out there and play with freedom. That's the only way you can beat other international teams - you can't beat international teams that are confident if you're not prepared to play with confidence and freedom yourself."