and families on tour
use of statistics
2009 Ashes
2009 West Indies Test
2010 Test against Pakistan
2009–10 Test in South Africa
rests players
and Pakistani accusations of match-fixing
2010–11 Ashes
2011 World Cup
2011 Test against India
2011 Test against Sri Lanka
tactics
loss of confidence after becoming world number one team
2012 Test against South Africa
2011–12 Test in Sri Lanka
2012 Test in India
2012 Test against West Indies
Pietersen crisis
future plans
retirement as captain
Strauss, Colleen (AS’s sister)
Strauss, Gillian (AS’s sister)
Strauss, Luca (AS’s son)
Strauss, Ruth (AS’s wife)
Strauss, Sam (AS’s son)
Strauss, Sandra (AS’s sister)
Sunday League
Sunday Times
Suppiah, Arul
Sutton, Luke
Swann, Graeme
2009 Ashes
2009–10 Test in South Africa
2010–11 Ashes
and Decision Review System
2012 Test against South Africa
Sydney
Sydney University
Taj Hotel, Mumbai
Tasmania
Taunton
Tendulkar, Sachin
Test Match Special
Think Half Full
Thorpe, Graham
Toothill, Richard
Tremlett, Chris
Trescothick, Marcus
2004 Test against New Zealand
on tour
2005 Ashes
health problems
Duncan Fletcher and
Trott, Jonathan
achievements
2009 Ashes
2010 Test against Pakistan
2010–11 Ashes
2011 Test against India
2011–12 Test in Sri Lanka
Tuffey, Daryl
Tufnell, Phil
Twenty20 cricket
UAE
umpires, Decision Review System (DRS)
Van Troost, Andre
Vaughan, Michael
2005 Ashes
knee injury
one-day series in Australia
Duncan Fletcher and
2007 World Cup
2007–8 New Zealand Test
as England captain
resignation
Vettori, Daniel
Wagner, Andy
Walpole, Andrew
Walsh, Courtney
Warne, Shane: 2005 Ashes
2006–7 Ashes
Watling, Benjamin
Waugh, Steve
The Weakest Link
Weekes, Paul
West Indies
2007 World Cup
2009 Test
2012 Test
Winsper, Paul
Wisden Trophy
World Cup
2003
2006
2007
2010
2011
2015
World Series Cricket (WSC)
Wright, Peter
Yardy, Mike
YouTube
Zimbabwe
My parents, David and Dawn, celebrating New Year in 1984.
Going on a hike with my dad in 1982.
My sisters, Colleen, Gillian and Sandra, looking after their little brother in 1980.
Not content with his son playing Aussie Rules football, my rugby-mad father enrolled me at Waverley Harlequins rugby club in Melbourne.
Exploring the Australian bush with my friend Christopher in 1985.
Receiving a trophy for winning a sevens tournament with Caldicott prep school. Rugby was definitely the school’s priority.
Every sport was catered for at Caldicott. Here I am in the tennis team.
Caldicott 1st XI in my final year. My first taste of captaincy was a good one.
With my rugby coach, Richard Greed, in my final year at Radley College. He succeeded ex-Wasps and England player Steve Bates in 1995.
Playing fly-half for Durham University. I was forced to give up the game in 1998 as my cricket became more serious.
My last day at Radley, in the summer of 1995.
Graduating from Durham University in 1998 alongside Luke Sutton, with whom I travelled to Australia the following winter. He went on to have a successful career at Somerset and Derbyshire.
Making my way at Middlesex. My early efforts were not always successful.
Ben Hutton, my great mate from school, university and Middlesex. He was also best man at my wedding.
Justin Langer captaining Middlesex in 2000. A great influence on me and an excellent left-handed opener.
John Emburey, Middlesex coach during my captaincy stint. The county was going through difficult times.
Owais Shah, Tim Bloomfield and myself at the start of the 2001 season.
I learnt a huge amount about captaincy at Middlesex, although captaining Phil Tufnell was not always easy!
My wedding day, 18 October 2003. Ruth has been a pillar of support, for both me and the kids.
One glorious day in May. New Zealand’s Chris Martin (left) was the first bowler I faced in my debut Test at Lord’s in 2004.
On the balcony of the dressing room at Lord’s, my team-mates and an injured Michael Vaughan (center) applaud as I make a century in my first Test innings.
Happy to get back to my South African roots on my first Test tour in 2004–05.
A team visit to a game reserve. As far as tours are concerned, there are few better locations.
Enjoying the series win at Centurion with Michael Vaughan – a fantastic captain, with a particularly natural feel for the game.
The runs keep coming. Leaving the field with Graham Thorpe after scoring 126 and 94 in the 1st Test at Port Elizabeth.
Welcome to Ashes cricket! Hitting a four of Glenn McGrath (left) and avoiding a bouncer from Brett Lee (right) during the 1st Test at Lord’s in 2005 – the start of a memorable series.
With my partner in that match, Marcus Trescothick, one of the great England openers. Unfortunately we lost the Test by 239 runs and were sent off to lick our wounds.
A pivotal moment in the 2005 Ashes. Steve Harmison dismisses Michael Kasprowicz to clinch a dramatic two-run victory in the 2nd Test at Edgbaston, a game that had everything.
Even the brilliant Shane Warne’s twelve wickets couldn’t stop us drawing the 5th Test and regaining the Ashes.
My 129 at The Oval was the best Test innings I ever played for England.
The coach and the deputy’s deputy. With Duncan Fletcher during the 2006 Pakistan series, when I stood in as captain in the absence of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff.
Trouble in paradise. The setting for England’s net practice in St Vincent during the 2006–07 World Cup was spectacular, but team problems were exasperating Duncan Fletcher.
With captain Andrew Flintoff (center) and Alastair Cook after a dispiriting loss in the 2nd Test of the 2006–07 Ashes at Adelaide. That tour was the lowest point of my England career.
With Peter Moores on the New Zealand tour of 2007–08. When he took over as coach, he decided to shake things up.
Daniel Vettori bowling at Napier in the 3rd Test: my last chance to re-establish my England place after being dropped in 2007.
Life is good again. On my way to a career-saving 177 in the second innings at Napier.
A great start to the summer of 2008: a series victory against New Zealand for England and a Man of the Series award for me.
Two months later, despite 135 from Paul Collingwood (above), South Africa won the 3rd Test and the series at Edgbaston, ending the career of Michael Vaughan.
With Peter Moores and new captain Kevin Piet
ersen (right). The early days of KP’s regime were encouraging, with victory in the final Test at The Oval and the subsequent ODI series.
Smoke billows from the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai during the terror attacks in November 2008.
The Indian government subsequently promised us ‘presidential levels of security’ – even at a nets session in Chennai.
Celebrating after scoring two centuries in the 1st Test at Chennai in December 2008. It was an absolute pleasure to be on the pitch for that match.
My feats were immediately overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar, whose monumental unbeaten century on a crumbling pitch took India to victory. What a player.
My turn. Facing my first press conference as England captain in January 2009, just before the West Indies tour.
Talking things through with acting coach Andy Flower at Port of Spain. He seemed to be the perfect man for the job.
The crowd at the 5th ODI against the West Indies in St Lucia. After losing the Test series, we regained some momentum by winning the game and the one-day series.
Relishing the responsibility. This century in the 3rd Test at Antigua was one of three in my first series as full-time captain.
Andrew Flintoff strains every sinew at Lord’s in the 2nd Test of the 2009 Ashes. He had just announced it would be his final series.
Nathan Hauritz shoulders arms to give Flintoff his fourth wicket in the second innings at Lord’s.
His team-mates stand by as Flintoff bathes in the admiration of the crowd after taking his fifth wicket. We went on to win the game by 115 runs.
Stuart Broad in the middle of another purple patch in the final Test at The Oval. He took five top-order wickets in the first innings.
Jonathan Trott’s selection for the Oval Test had raised some eyebrows, but his 119 in the second innings proved crucial – a truly stunning debut.
The celebrations begin as Graeme Swann finally ends Mike Hussey’s rearguard stand of 121 at The Oval. I can still scarcely believe that we won the 2009 Ashes.
I will not miss facing South Africa’s Morne Morkel (above). I struggled against him in the 2009–10 series and for the rest of my career.
Man of the Series Graeme Swann produced some breathtaking bowling to take nine wickets in the 2nd Test at Durban.
Doing the hard yards: enduring another fitness session on the beach in South Africa.
Accepting the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year team award while on tour in South Africa.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir, captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif (l to r) watch a replay during the innings of the 2010 Lord’s Test that prompted allegations of spot-fixing.
Amir looks on as Stuart Broad and Jonathan Trott build their record-breaking partnership of 332 at Lord’s. How did they feel after all the revelations in the News of the World?
In the 2nd Test at Adelaide in 2010–11, James Anderson takes the prized wicket of Michael Clarke, leaving Australia three wickets down after only thirteen balls.
I won the toss at the 4th Test at Melbourne, but my instinctive decision to bowl first was met with groans from England supporters.
The Barmy Army were soon cheering as the nagging accuracy of England’s seam attack, including Chris Tremlett (left) and James Anderson (right), skittled Australia for just 98.
Tim Bresnan celebrates one of his four key wickets in Australia’s second innings at Melbourne, trapping Shane Watson lbw for 54.
Graeme Swann leads the ‘sprinkler dance’ after our win in the 4th Test in 2010–11 had ensured that the Ashes were not going to be prised from our grasp.
The Holy Grail: receiving the replica urn from Michael Vaughan. Victory at Sydney in the final Test capped off a resounding Ashes series win – the first Down Under since 1986–87.
On my way to a one-day career-best 158 against India in the 2010–11 World Cup. It was a sad decision to step down as ODI captain after what was a disappointing tournament for England.
Having been hammered by Sri Lanka in the World Cup quarter-final, it was a joy to be greeted at Heathrow by the smiling faces of my sons Sam (left) and Luca (right).
And then there were three: in 2011 Alastair Cook (left) was appointed one-day captain and Stuart Broad (right) Twenty20 captain, while I remained as Test captain.
To secure the world No. 1 spot, we needed to beat India at Edgbaston in 2011. Cook’s remarkable 294 made the task a great deal easier.
Spirited resistance from captain MS Dhoni in the second innings restored respectability for India, but it would not be enough.
Another victory in the final Test at The Oval makes it 4–0. What a pleasure it was to captain the England team during the 2011 series against India!
Officially the best team in the world: celebrating with Andy Flower in the Oval dressing room with the ICC Test Championship mace.
With Graeme Fowler, director of cricket at Durham in my student days, at a dinner at Lord’s in 2011 to mark the award of an honorary doctorate from the university.
Another proud moment. With my wife, Ruth, later the same year, after receiving my OBE from the Princess Royal for services to cricket.
A humbling 3–0 defeat to Pakistan in early 2012 forced us to re-examine our play against spin. Here I watch Monty Panesar in a special nets session in Abu Dhabi.
Kevin Pietersen helps us return to winning ways with an emphatic 151 in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo in April 2012.
In the 1st Test at Galle we had suffered our fourth Test defeat in a row – despite a battling 112 from Jonathan Trott and my satisfying run-out of Suraj Randiv.
One of the highlights of my career: receiving a standing ovation at Lord’s after reaching my century in the 1st Test against the West Indies in 2012.
Waiting for a team photo with James Anderson (left) and Kevin Pietersen prior to the 2012 series against South Africa.
Congratulating Hashim Amla on reaching 300 in the 1st Test, which ended as a heavy defeat for England.
Leading the team onto the field for the presentations at Lord’s after losing the 3rd Test and the series. It was my 100th and final Test – and the end of a very difficult summer.
Time to go. Announcing my retirement from professional cricket in 2012, as Alastair Cook, the new captain, looks on. I was surprised to be applauded out of the press conference.
Finally the chance for Ruth and me to relax with our sons, Sam and Luca.
PHOTOGRAPHIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author and publisher would like to thank the following for permission to reproduce photographs:
Hamish Blair/Getty Images, Russell Boyce/Reuters/Action Images, Andrew Boyers/Livepic/Action Images, Philip Brown/Reuters/Action Images, Philip Brown/Reuters/Corbis, Andrew Brownbill/Press Association, Caldicott School Archives, Graham Chadwick/Daily Mail/Rex Features, Gareth Copley/Press Association, Peter Cziborra/Livepic/Action Images, Mark Dadswell/Getty Images, Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images, Ede & Ravenscroft, Matthew Fearn/Press Association, Stu Forster/Getty Images, Paul Gilham/Getty Images, Julian Herbert/Getty Images, Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images, Clive Mason/Getty Images, Marty Melville/Getty Images, Graham Morris/Cricketpix, Indranil Mukharjee/AFP/Getty Images, David Munden/Popperfoto/Getty Images, Rebecca Naden/Press Association, Jason O’Brien/Livepic/Action Images, Punit Paranjpe /Reuters/Action Images, Steve Parsons/Press Association, Altaf Qadri/AP/Press Association, Carl Recine/Livepic/Action Images, Rex Features, Clive Rose/Getty Images, Stephane de Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images, Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images, Ross Setford/AP/Press Association, Tom Shaw/Getty Images, Sports Inc/Press Association, Darren Staples/Reuters/Action Images, Rui Vieira/Press Association, William West/AFP/Getty Images, Tim Wimbourne/Reuters/Action Images, Lewis Whyld/Press Association.
The publisher acknowledges the trademarks of Cricket Australia in some of these photographs and where used notes that they have been reproduced with the approval of Cricket Australia.
All other photographs are from private collections.
Driving Ambition - My Autobiography Page 28
