Andrew Strauss says he has rekindled his international form ahead of the first Test against New Zealand.

The batsman was dropped for England's Christmas tour of Sri Lanka, following a run of poor form for his country.

But following his recall for the tour of New Zealand, Strauss, 31, believes he has regained his form.

"I don't feel I'm batting worse now than I did earlier in my career and in some ways I've improved technically," said the Middlesex left-hander ahead of the first Test, which begins at 9.30pm GMT on Wednesday.

Strauss is set to complete his international rehabilitation with selection for the opening Test at Seddon Park.

He announced his return with a century in England's final warm-up match against a Select XI, his first for his country since scoring 116 against Pakistan at Headingley in August 2006.

"It's about getting into that mental zone when you get into your little bubble and you don't let people affect that," he said.

"If I can get into that frame of mind, I don't see any reason why the best years of my Test career shouldn't be ahead of me rather than behind me.

"At the end of last season I was maybe too conscious of trying to get a score because I wasn't playing well and because I wanted to get a score I went outside of my gameplan a little bit.

"On reflection I think that's what happened and maybe having had a bit of time out you can sit back and reflect and learn a lesson from it."

Doubts still remain over the fitness of all-rounder Paul Collingwood and bowler Ryan Sidebottom.

But Strauss is confident the pair will be fit enough to take their place in England side to face New Zealand.

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