Strauss has been in great form in West Indies

Andrew Strauss has been given been the strongest indication yet that he will captain England in this summer's home Ashes series.

The Middlesex opener was handed the responsibility to lead the team during the current tour of the West Indies and he has impressed with his performances.

"Andrew has done a very good job," England's national selector Geoff Miller told BBC's Sportsweek.

"I don't think we need to see beyond Andrew at the moment."

Miller added: "We have to create momentum. If he continues doing the job he's doing, getting runs, as well as good responses from players and the backroom staff then there's no problem."

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Although England are 1-0 down in the series in West Indies, Strauss' new role has not hampered his form with the bat, having hit three Test centuries in three matches.

"Andrew is very level headed and taken to the role from a performance point of view because he's been smacking runs at will."

Meanwhile, Miller said that Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison needs to rediscover his old form in order to regain his England place.

The 30-year-old was left out of squad for the fourth Test and was not recalled for the fifth Test.

"We all know of his qualities but he has to prove it on the field," he added.

"The captain and the coach [Andy Flower] have made those decisions and it's up to him to respond.

"What we've been looking for is people knocking on the door to force their way into the side and that means the players in the side have to perform consistently and Steve hasn't done that.

"There's the possibility for him to get back to his former self, but it's up to him to put the hard work in."

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