Strauss scored his 16th Test century and third against the West Indies
Captain Andrew Strauss wants England to build a big first innings total after his innings of 142 helped them reach 301-3 on day one of the fourth Test.
Strauss and Alastair Cook (94) put on 212 but West Indies claimed three quick wickets before Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood saw England to stumps.
He said: "We wanted to put the West Indies bowlers under pressure early on and 301-3 is a nice way to start.
"Hopefully we can push on to 500 and give our bowlers something to aim at."
Strauss's century was the 16th of his career, his second in three innings and third against the West Indies overall.
"It is important as captain to lead by example and I suppose if you want a team to play in a positive way, then you show you are able to do that yourself.
"I am fortunate at the moment that I am feeling in good form and that makes it easier to go out and be positive," he said.
"Alastair and I assessed the pitch for the first seven or eight overs and we felt we could start playing our shots.
"We chanced our arms a little and got away with a couple, but when it's your day, it's your day."
Strauss offered words of consolation for Cook, who failed to convert a 50 into a hundred for the 11th time in the past 12 months.
"It is one of those things that is clearly a bit of a mental issue for him at the moment," he said.
"It is not something I am overly worried about as a captain because he continues to make very important contributions to the team and he will get over that line and get that hundred.
"Then he will feel a lot more relaxed about the way he's playing. It is better to have the problem in the 50s and 60s than the single figure and teens."
When West Indies bat, England will have only four front-line bowlers to rely on, with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff ruled out because of a hip problem.
The quartet does not, however, include Steve Harmison and Strauss confirmed concerns about the Durham paceman's form had led to the decision to drop him from the team.
"Ryan Sidebottom has been our number one bowler for the last 12 months or so and has been feeling better with his injury," he explained.
"Steve was unlucky to miss out but that's the way it goes.
"It was encouraging to see the ball continue swinging here when two of our bowlers are swing bowlers and I think there will be more and more turn as the game goes on.
"There's going to be a lot of hard graft but, with the additional scoreboard pressure, I think we've got a good chance."
Meanwhile, it is looking increasingly unlikely that Flintoff will be available for the final Test, which starts on 6 March, and an announcement is expected on Friday.
"He is obviously continuing with his rehabilitation and there will be some news on him soon in terms of what his best plan is," said Strauss.
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