ANDREW Strauss has responded to critics of Alastair Cook’s England one-day team by demanding they are shown greater patience.

Essex man Cook’s reign opened with a thumping 110-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Oval, but England now trail the series 2-1 with two matches remaining.

Questions are already being asked of the side but Strauss, the current test skipper and Cook’s predecessor as one-day captain, believes all they need is more time.

“As England captain you invest so much in your team so you still have a great regard for it and wish for the team to be doing well,” said Strauss. “But it’s important to realise that post World Cup was the start of a new cycle and, therefore, it was wrong to expect the England team to suddenly be the best in the world.

“It’s going to take time and hard work. We’ll have good days and bad days, but over time we’ll get better.

“I’m very confident that will happen and I’ll help out any way I can.”