Michael Carberry is keen to make a lasting impression in Bangladesh in the absence of England captain Andrew Strauss.
Hampshire man hoping to make Test case in Bangladesh
Michael Carberry is keen to make a lasting impression in Bangladesh in the absence of England captain Andrew Strauss.
Carberry admits his call-up to the Test squad was overshadowed by the absence of Strauss, but is desperate to put on a performance to erase that.
It is unlikely Carberry would have got the nod had Strauss made himself available for the tour, but the Hampshire batsman is trying not to devote too much thought to the circumstances around his selection.
Carberry will play in a three-day warm-up against Bangladesh A starting on Sunday, and he is desperate to make an impact.
"Straussy's got something like 5,500 Test runs and 17 centuries so, yes, those are pretty big shoes to fill," said Carberry.
Focus
"But he is not here, he's having a break. I'm just trying to focus on what I need to do and not to get caught up in the hype around whether I should be here or not.
"I just need to get on with the job in hand which is going out there, building a partnership with Alastair Cook at the top of the order and setting a foundation for the other batsmen."
As one of only two specialist openers in the squad, Carberry has a strong claim to a place in the Test XI, but both Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell are alternatives at the head of the innings should England opt to squeeze all-rounder Luke Wright into the side.
"Sport at the highest level is about being an opportunist when the chances come," he said. "Twelve months ago I wouldn't have pictured myself here.
"The fact that I am means I've now to get make the most of whatever small opportunities I get."
Pressure
With Strauss returning to lead the side in the summer it as apparent that Bangladesh represents a potentially make-or-break series for the 29-year-old, but he is refusing to feel the pressure.
"Speaking to anyone who has succeeded at this level, they always come back with the same messages about really trying to simplify the game and trying to go in there with an uncluttered mind.
"You have to try and go in and play as you do for your county because that is what has got you there. That's what I'm looking to do.
"It's still the same game - there's a bat and a ball and you've got to go through the same routines. You've just got to be mentally strong and back yourself."
