England batsman Andrew Strauss believes his late blooming as an international player has helped his career.
South African-born Strauss, 27, made his One Day International debut against Sri Lanka on November 18 last year, and played his first Test against New Zealand at Lord's in May this year.
"If I had made my debut two years earlier I would not have been as well prepared," Strauss told reporters in Windhoek on Monday, where England are preparing for their tour to Zimbabwe.
"County cricket allowed me to work out my gameplan," Strauss said.
"Test cricket is a test of technique and temperament, and if you're a little older you're in a better place to deal with it."
Strauss is averaging just over 45 having scored 590 runs in seven Tests, including two centuries. He is also averaging over 40 in One Day Internationals.
The Middlesex opener said he had learnt a great deal since his elevation to international cricket.
"When I opened the batting for Middlesex in one-day games two years ago I played completely differently," he said. "You learn to improvise, to play little dinky shots.
"I used to think you had to hit the ball hard, but you can score quickly with deflections rather than smacking it over the bowler's head."
ENGLAND IMPROVING
Strauss said England were progressing as a one-day team.
"We've had a few blips, against Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the summer, but hopefully it's part of a learning experience and we're going to be a better side for it," he said.
There have been calls to scrap the tour to Zimbabwe, where England play five one-dayers, but Strauss said Michael Vaughan's side were focused on their second one-day warm-up match against Namibia in Windhoek on Tuesday.
"The Zimbabwe tour is on the backburner," he said.
"Once the game tomorrow is finished we'll turn our attention to Zimbabwe and try to deal with that.
"The guys are looking forward to doing well on the field, to making a clean sweep of the five matches."
England beat Namibia by 67 runs in the first warm-up match in Windhoek on Sunday.
The squad is scheduled to arrive in Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
