Andrew Strauss hopes England can be inspired by last summer's Ashes experience at Old Trafford as they attempt to emerge from their slump on and off the pitch.

Long-term injuries to captain Michael Vaughan (knee), Ashley Giles (hip) and Simon Jones (knee) and now Andrew Flintoff, who will be sidelined for three months after a second operation on his left ankle, have dominated England's summer.

With the return Ashes series moving ever closer, stand-in captain Strauss knows England need to find their form sooner rather than later if they are to overcome Pakistan, who now lie second in the world Test rankings, in the second npower Test at Manchester starting today.

"The important thing is how we approach the Test match - how we go out there, how much effort and commitment we put in because these are the things that are going to make a difference between winning and losing," he said.