London, Nov. 1 (ANI): After showing splendid skills with both bat and ball during the Ashes, Stuart Broad was being touted as Andrew Flintoff’s natural heir, but England skipper Andrew Strauss doesn’t think so.

“Stuart is not a like-for-like replacement for Flintoff in any way. He has his own particular skills, some of which are world class and some of which need work. We don’t want him to be a saviour we turn to,” News of the world quoted Strauss, as saying.

“Stuart has his head screwed on. We are excited about him but the last thing I want to do is put a huge amount of expectation on his shoulders. We have coped without Freddie in the past when others have taken on the responsibility with bat and ball,” he added.

England departed for South Africa last night to play two Twenty20 games, four one-day internationals and four Tests against the world’s top-ranked team.

Graeme Smith’s side are on top of the world Test rankings and Strauss added: “Playing South Africa away from home is probably the hardest assignment you can get.

“The Ashes gets more hype but in purely cricketing terms this is a tougher assignment. But when you are at the top of the tree everyone is hunting you so, hopefully, we can knock them down a peg or two.”

Strauss is one of four South African-born players in England’s party and they have been promised a spicy reception from the boisterous Bok crowds.

But he said: “The selectors pick the 15 best England qualified players. The fact that some of them have been born out of these shores is of no consequence.”

“These players have shown hunger and determination and deserve to be playing for England.” (ANI)