A Guide Andrew Strauss

What You Need to Know

Andrew John Strauss MBE was born in South Africa on March 2nd 1977, only moving to England at the age of six.
He is a left-handed opening batsman and the captain of England’s Test cricket team.
He has been playing his county cricket for Middlesex since joining them from Durham University in 1996.
Strauss made his debut for Middlesex in 1998, with a score of 83 in his maiden first-class innings, and then first played international cricket in 2003.
Taking on New Zealand in 2004, Strauss became only the fourth player to score a century at Lord's on his Test debut.
He was made captain of England in 2009 and immediately helped his country to a famous win over Australia in that year’s Ashes.
Strauss was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2011 Birthday Honours.

Early Life and County Career

Andrew John Strauss MBE was born in South Africa on March 2nd 1977, only moving to England at the age of six.

However, it was in Australia where his cricketing career began, picking up the bat for Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne, before moving back to England and carrying on his ascent to greatness first at Caldicott School and then at Durham University.

Having established himself as a sports star-in-the-making with his university first XI, he made a seamless transition to county cricket, making his debut for Middlesex in 1998, with a score of 83 in his maiden first-class innings.

However, Strauss had to wait two seasons for his maiden century, with this achievement then helping him, along with a string of stellar batting performances in 2001 and 2002, to become Middlesex captain following the retirement of local legend Angus Fraser.

England Career

Meanwhile, Strauss made his international cricketing debut in 2003 as part of England's one day tour of the Indian sub-continent, scoring 51 against Bangladesh.

A first Test came in 2004 as England took on New Zealand, with his strong showing helping him become a key member of the England team in the following years, including in the 2005 Ashes win against Australia.

After a spate of injuries, he was then elevated to the status of England captain for the duration of England's 2006 series against Pakistan, though, while he was named as Player of the Series in his side's 3-0 overall win, this achievement was overshadowed by his opponents' decision to forfeit one match after being accused of ball-tampering by the umpire.

Career highlights

One of the most-gifted English batsmen of the past few decades, Strauss' cricketing achievements are many.

However, his ascension to the full-time captaincy in 2009, and, most notably, leading England to victory in the 2009 Ashes - for which he was named Player of the Series - must go down as true highlights, as will the fact that, along with the other members of the 2005 Ashes team, Strauss was awarded an MBE in 2006.

More recently, Strauss succeeded in his bid to make history by becoming the first England captain to guide his country to Ashes victories both home and away, with England winning the 2010-2011 series by a considerable margin.

Career Lows

Despite his successes, Strauss' career has not all been plain sailing.

Following a run of poor form throughout 2007, the future captain was dropped from that year's Test series against both India and the West Indies, with the player forcing himself to take a break from the game in order to regain his form.

At the last World Cup he could only guide England to the quarter-finals, being knocked out by Sri Lanka.

Fascinating Facts

Taking on New Zealand in 2004, Strauss became only the fourth player to score a century at Lord's on his Test debut.
As of 2011, he is also one of just ten Englishmen to score a double century in a Test match.
Alongside his sporting prowess, Strauss also possesses a sharp mind, having achieved a 2:1 in economics while at Durham University.
As well as the obvious Straussy, his nicknames among his fellow professional cricketers include Levi and Muppet.