Strauss to play for Somerset v India in bid for form

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Out-of-form England captain  Andrew Strauss will turn out for English county side Somerset  against India next month even though he is a Middlesex player.

His appearance before the first test against the Indians  from July 21-24 follows a string of low scores in the test  series against Sri Lanka. Middlesex also do not play a four-day  game for three weeks before the Lord’s encounter.

“We were very sensitive to Somerset’s feelings on this and  if at any stage we felt they weren’t comfortable with the idea  then it would have been a non-starter but they were very keen on  the idea,” Strauss said in a statement ahead of the July 15-17  tour match.

“It helps my preparation for the test series and hopefully  it will help Somerset. Any time I get the opportunity to play  against the touring side prior to the series starting I take  because it gives me an opportunity to see their bowlers.”

(Reporting by Mark Meadows; editing by John Mehaffey)