Strauss was pressed for clues in the guessing game of who will be his new opening partner, and how many spinners England may deploy in dry and dusty Chittagong.
But he assiduously avoided the merest hint as to whether Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell or Matt Prior will move up the order in place of the injured Kevin Pietersen - or if James Tredwell could yet join Graeme Swann and Mike Yardy in a three-strong spin attack.
It is England's default policy to keep team selection up their sleeve, for fear of giving the opposition an edge, while remaining at pains to demonstrate they are in no way undecided.
Today, Strauss indulged in the bluff and diplomacy his job often demands. There was the suspicion of a boast as he said: "We're very clear in our minds who the best opening batsman will be for this game."
The identity of Strauss' first-wicket partner is not for public consumption, though - and neither is the bowling personnel.
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