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Driving Ambition - My Autobiography

Page 27

by Andrew Strauss


  Perhaps inevitably, I tried my hand at commentary for Sky TV for the 2013 Ashes series, as well as writing a column for the Sunday Times. For a cricket fan like me, the prospect of having the best seat in the house was too hard to resist.

  My experiences in the commentary box have definitely allowed me to look at the role of the media from a different point of view. While players get understandably defensive if any criticism comes their way, commentators are often merely reacting to whatever the topic of the day might be. There is actually far more positivity and genuine support for the England team than players think. Although it would never have been feasible, it would have done me good to spend a day or two up in the commentary box while I was still a player. It might have saved me from a little of the stress and frustration I experienced when going through the various dips in my career.

  The technicalities of broadcasting certainly took a little getting used to, but I thoroughly enjoyed being part of a team of mainly ex-England captains, who unsurprisingly were just as passionate and intrigued by the game of cricket as I am.

  It was also fascinating to watch the 2013 Ashes series unfold while no longer being directly involved in proceedings. Most neutral observers would have predicted an England win, and in that sense the series yielded few surprises. Australia, reeling before the series had even begun after a number of self-inflicted off-field gaffes, as well as suffering the ignominy of a 4–0 whitewash defeat in India earlier in the year, performed better than expected – especially after losing the second Test match at Lord’s so heavily.

  The eventual 3–0 series result flattered England a little. However, it would be hard to argue that they weren’t the better side over the course of the five Test matches. It shows how far the relative fortunes of the sides have changed since 2005 that Australia’s defeat was met with some relief by Australian supporters, while England fans were left feeling a little short-changed.

  For Alastair Cook, it was the first time he had had to deal with the huge challenges in terms of pressure, expectation and non-stop demands that face any England captain during an Ashes series, and he will be delighted he was able to fulfil the boyhood dream of lifting the Ashes urn at The Oval at the first time of asking. Many past England captains would have given their left arm to match what he and the rest of his players achieved.

  As his former opening partner, and a close friend, I was delighted to see him withstand the stress and lead England to victory. With so little time before the return leg starts in Brisbane, he is no doubt preparing himself for a busy winter.

  I have to admit that I felt a tinge of jealousy as the players huddled together after securing the series at Durham. There are many things I don’t miss about international cricket, but those times as a group, when all the players come together to celebrate a hard-earned victory, are the moments that any player savours. Nothing can replace them.

  Aside from cricket, I have a few opportunities in the commercial world that I am keen to follow, including setting up a consultancy business focusing on leadership and performance, called Think Half Full.

  In the long term I will be looking to commit my time to one or two of these pursuits but not to all of them. I am not sure it is possible to keep so many balls in the air without one of them dropping.

  One new career that has been mooted in the press is as a politician. I have no idea where this idea came from. Perhaps somebody saw my ability to keep talking through a press conference while actually saying nothing of consequence and reckoned that it would transfer well into the world of politics. While I haven’t given the idea a lot of thought, it doesn’t feel like the right direction for me. If there was one area in the sport that I didn’t particularly warm to, it was the politics, both at domestic and international level.

  I suppose I still have a little time on my side. While I will now always be an ex-England cricketer, I can never be sure what opportunities lie ahead. If they are anything like the ones I have had so far in my life, I will count myself incredibly fortunate.

  In the meantime, my son is nagging me to bowl at him in the garden …

  CAREER STATISTICS

  Compiled by Benedict Bermange

  INDEX

  Abu Dhabi

  Adelaide

  Afrikaners

  Ahmed, Mushtaq

  Ajmal, Saeed

  Akhtar, Shoaib

  Altree, Darren

  Ambrose, Curtly

  American football

  Amir, Mohammad

  Amla, Hashim

  Anderson, James

  2006–7 Ashes

  2009 Ashes

  misses Bangladesh tour

  2010–11 Ashes

  2011 Test against India

  and Pietersen crisis

  Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU)

  Antigua

  Ashes: 2005 series

  2009 series

  2010–11 series

  ECB changes timing of

  Asif, Mohammad

  Atherton, Mike

  Australia

  Strauss family in

  AS plays Grade cricket in

  2005 Ashes

  2006–7 Ashes

  ODI cricket

  2009 Ashes

  2010–11 Ashes

  2015 World Cup

  Australia A

  Avery, James

  Azharuddin, Mohammad

  Bairstow, Jonny

  Bangalore

  Bangladesh

  AS on tour in

  ODI matches

  2010 Test

  Barmy Army

  baseball

  Basil D’Oliveira Trophy

  Bates, Steve

  BBC Sports Personality of the Year

  Beane, Billy

  Beer, Michael

  Bell, Ian

  2006–7 Ashes

  2007–8 New Zealand Test

  2010–11 Ashes

  2011 Test against India

  Bennett, Don

  Benson & Hedges Cup

  Birmingham

  Blair, Tony

  Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

  Bopara, Ravi

  Botham, Ian

  Brandes, Eddo

  Brearley, Mike

  Bresnan, Tim

  Brisbane

  Broad, Stuart

  2009 Ashes

  2010 Test against Pakistan

  2010–11 Ashes

  as Twenty20 captain

  2011 Test against India

  2012 Test against South Africa

  Buchanan, John

  Bucknor, Steve

  Bull, Steve

  Butcher, Mark

  Butt, Salman

  Buttler, Jos

  Caldicott Preparatory School

  Cameron, David

  Canada

  Cape Town

  Cardiff

  Centurion

  Champions League

  Chanderpaul, Shivnarine

  Channel 9 television (Australia)

  Chennai

  Clark, Stuart

  Clarke, Giles

  Clarke, Michael

  Collier, David

  Collingwood, Paul

  2006–7 Ashes

  one-day cricket

  criticism of

  2009 Ashes

  2010–11 Ashes

  retirement

  Colombo

  Conway, Dean

  Cook, Alastair

  2009 Ashes

  2010 Test in Bangladesh

  2010–11 Ashes

  as ODI captain

  2011 Test against India

  2011–12 Test in Sri Lanka

  and Pietersen crisis

  County Championships

  county cricket

  Cronje, Hansie

  Cullinan, Daryll

  Cuttack

  Davies, Steve

  Dawes, Joe

  Decision Review System (DRS)

  Delhi Daredevils

  Dhoni, Mahendra Singh

  D
ickason, Reg

  Doherty, Xavier

  dot-ball percentage

  Dravid, Rahul

  Dubai

  Durban

  Durham University

  ECB

  tour of Zimbabwe

  and Allen Stanford

  and deteriorating relationship between Moores and Pietersen

  splits coach’s role

  and Pakistani accusations of match-fixing

  and ODI cricket

  and timing of the Ashes

  uses three captains

  Pietersen crisis

  Edgbaston

  Edmonds, Phil

  Emburey, John

  England cricket team: AS’s Test debut

  AS’s first tour for

  2005 Ashes

  2006–7 Ashes

  2007 World Cup

  AS dropped

  2007 Test in India

  2007–8 New Zealand Test

  AS returns to team

  2008–9 Test in India

  2008 Test against New Zealand

  2008 Test against South Africa

  Pietersen as captain

  Strauss becomes captain

  2009 tour of West Indies

  relationship with media

  use of statistics

  2009 Ashes

  2008–9 West Indies Test

  2010 Test against Pakistan

  ODI cricket

  2009–10 Test in South Africa

  2010 Test in Bangladesh

  2010 World Cup

  ODI series against Pakistan (2010)

  2010–11 Ashes

  2011 World Cup

  Twenty20 cricket

  2011 Test against India

  2011 Test against Sri Lanka

  tactics

  loss of confidence after becoming world number one team

  Pietersen crisis

  Strauss retires as captain

  goal-setting problems

  2011–12 Test in Sri Lanka

  2011–12 Test against Pakistan

  2012 Test against South Africa

  2012 Test in India

  2012 Test against West Indies

  2015 World Cup

  Evans, Rhian

  Farah, Mo

  Finn, Steve

  Fleming, Stephen

  Fletcher, Duncan

  achievements

  2005 Ashes

  warns AS about Warne

  and Freddie Flintoff

  2007 World Cup

  resignation

  Flintoff, Andrew (Freddie)

  2005 Ashes

  2006–7 Ashes

  injury

  as England captain

  2007 World Cup

  and Pietersen as captain

  2009 Ashes

  retirement

  Flower, Andy: and AS as England captain

  improves practice methods

  use of statistics

  achievements as coach

  2009 Ashes

  rests players

  role split

  2010–11 Ashes

  and ODI cricket

  Pietersen crisis

  and AS’s retirement

  Fowler, Graeme

  Fraser, Angus

  Galle

  Gatting, Mike

  Gayle, Chris

  Germany

  Gibbs, Herschelle

  Gilchrist, Adam

  Giles, Ashley

  Gillespie, Jason

  Gillette Cup

  Gooch, Graham

  Gordon, Bill

  Gould, Ian (Gunner)

  Graveney, David

  Gul, Umar

  Haddin, Brad

  Hales, Alex

  Halsall, Richard

  Harmison, Steve

  2005 Ashes

  2006–7 Ashes

  and Pietersen as captain

  2009 Ashes

  Hauritz, Nathan

  Hayden, Matthew

  Headingley

  Herath, Rangana

  Hilfenhaus, BW

  Hitler, Adolf

  Hobart

  Hoggard, Matthew

  Holding, Michael

  Hussain, Nasser

  Hussey, Mike

  Hutton, Ben

  India: AS on tour in

  2007 Test

  2008–9 Test

  one-day cricket

  terrorist attacks in Mumbai

  match-fixing controversy

  2010 World Cup

  2011 World Cup

  2011 Test

  2012 Test

  Indian Premier League (IPL)

  Indore

  International Cricket Council (ICC)

  Inzamam-ul-Haq

  Ireland

  Islamabad Airport

  Jamaica

  Johannesburg

  John, Elton

  Johnson, Mitchell

  Jones, Geraint

  Joyce, Ed

  Kallis, Jacques

  Kasprowicz, Michael

  Katich, Simon

  Khan, Zaheer

  Koenig, Sven

  Koertzen, Rudi

  Langer, Justin

  Lara, Brian

  Laud, Medha

  Leamon, Nathan

  Lee, Brett

  Leeds

  Lewis, Michael

  Lloyd, David ‘Bumble’

  London

  London Marathon

  Lord’s

  Lord’s Taverners

  Loughborough

  McCaig, Steve

  McCullum, Brendan

  McDonald, Ruth see Strauss, Ruth

  McGlashan, Peter

  McGrath, Glenn

  McLean, Nixon

  Madugalle, Ranjan

  Majeed, Mazhar

  Martin, Chris

  Martin-Jenkins, Robin

  Martyn, Damien

  match-fixing

  Melbourne

  Merlyn (spin-bowling machine)

  Middlesex Country Cricket Club

  AS trials for

  AS joins

  problems

  AS captains

  Moores, Peter: deteriorating relationship with Kevin Pietersen

  as England coach

  AS tries to change technique

  Morgan, Eoin

  Morgan, Piers

  Morkel, Morne

  Morris, Hugh

  Mosman Cricket Club

  Mugabe, Robert

  Mumbai

  terror attacks

  Napier, New Zealand

  Nash, David

  Neale, Phil

  Nel, André

  New Zealand: AS’s Test debut

  one-day cricket

  2007 World Cup

  2007–8 Test

  Twenty20 cricket

  News of the World

  Nicholas, Mark

  Noffke, Ashley

  North, Marcus

  Northern Districts, New Zealand

  Nottingham

  Nottinghamshire

  Ntini, Makhaya

  Oakland A’s

  ODI cricket

  Oram, JDP

  Ormond, Jimmy

  The Oval

  Oxfordshire Under-19s

  Packer, Kerry

  Pakistan

  AS on tour in

  2006 Test

  terrorism

  2010 Test

  match-fixing controversy

  2010 ODI series

  2011–12 Test

  Pakistani Cricket Board

  Panesar, Monty

  Parsons, Don

  Pataudi Trophy

  Patel, Jeetan

  Pattinson, Darren

  Performance Squad (England A)

  Perth

  Philander, Vernon

  Pietersen, Kevin

  2004–5 Test in South Africa

  2005 Ashes

  2006–7 Ashes

  2008 New Zealand Test

  2008–9 Test in India

  2009 Ashes

  2010–11 Ashes

 
2011 Test against India

  2011–12 Test in Sri Lanka

  deteriorating relationship with Peter Moores

  as England captain

  resignation

  in Dubai

  crisis with ECB

  Ponting, Ricky

  2005 Ashes

  2006–7 Ashes

  2009 Ashes

  2010–11 Ashes

  Port Elizabeth

  Porter, Angus

  Pratt, Gary

  Prior, Matt

  2009 Ashes

  2010–11 Ashes

  and Pietersen crisis

  2012 Test against South Africa

  Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA)

  Radcliffe, Daniel

  Radley College

  Raina, Sursh

  Ramprakash, Mark

  Red Bull

  Riaz, Wahab

  Richards, Viv

  Robinson, Anne

  Robinson, Bert

  Saker, David

  Saxby, Mark

  Sehwag, Virender

  Shah, Owais

  Siddle, Peter

  Sidebottom, Ryan

  Singh, Yuvraj

  Sky TV

  Smith, Graeme

  Smith, Paul

  Somerset

  South Africa

  Strauss family in

  AS’s first tour

  2008 Test

  match-fixing controversy

  ODI matches

  2009–10 Test

  2012 Test

  Pietersen crisis

  Spray, Philip

  Sreesanth, Shanthakumaran

  Sri Lanka

  AS on tour in

  2007 Test

  2008 Test

  2011 World Cup

  ODI cricket

  2011–12 Test

  Stanford, Allen

  Stevens, Alan

  Steyn, Dale

  Strauss (AS’s father)

  Strauss (AS’s grandfather)

  Strauss (AS’s grandmother)

  Strauss (AS’s mother)

  Strauss, Andrew: family background

  childhood

  early cricket

  at Caldicott Preparatory School

  at Radley College

  at Durham University

  joins Middlesex

  injures hamstring

  plays Grade cricket in Australia

  meets Ruth

  captain of Middlesex

  ODI cricket

  Test debut

  press conferences

  on tour

  2005 Ashes

  2006–7 Ashes

  and England captaincy

  2007 World Cup

  dropped from England team

  media attention

  tries to change technique

  returns to England team

  2007–8 New Zealand Test

  Twenty20 cricket

  sleep problems

  2008 Test against New Zealand

  2008–9 Test in India

  Man of the Series awards

  becomes England captain

 

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