Strauss Has Hung Up His Boots

Yesterday, at roughly 12-00, Andrew Strauss publicly retired from all forms of professional cricket, and the opening segment of this post is a kind of tribute to a fantastic player who's career has had ups and downs.

Strauss first class career started back in the last millennium in the year of 1998 where he made his Middlesex debut and scored 83 in his maiden innings. But having stuttered slightly after this sparkling debut he didn't break on to the international scene until 2003.

His international debut was hardly the way he wanted to introduce him self though, England lost by 10 wickets and Strauss struggled.

He would have to wait till the start of the next English season for his next chance, courtesy of a Michael Vaughan knee injury. And my lord didn't he shine in his first test in England. At Lords, the home of cricket, he opened the batting for the three lions and a hit a century. But he wasn't finished there, in the second innings he hit a half century to take his average after just one test match at nearly 100. Not bad.

The rest is history, he helped England win the Ashes in 2005 and after being appointed as captain a couple of years back, he won the ashes in England and then again in Aussie territory for the first time since donkeys years back.

Andrew Strauss Beaming After Winning The Ashes
 

But then in 2011 another honour was added to his long list of achievements, when he captained the three lions to victory against India to take Blighty to number one in the test rankings.

It's been tough since then, nobody can deny that.

A tough winter in the UAE against Pakistan was followed by a mickey mouse series against West Indies and more recently a series loss against South Africa meant that SA won the number one ranking.

That was just a few days ago now, and Strauss has decided to call curtains on his career. Whether that was anything to do with the KP affair, we may never know. (KP has clearly been a massive knob, and has a lot of bridges to rebuild)

Personally, I think it did, but that's just my opinion and I can't prove it. But the main reason is obviously the fact that he has been awfully out of nick for the past year or so, and at the age of 35 you can't help but think that he might never get that golden touch back.

But regardless of the reason for his retirement at this current time, his career has been magnificent, and that was just one of hundreds of tributes that have been given to Straussy today.

The second part of this post is going to be about the future, and what is going to happen next for the English cricket team...

Alaister Cook has been appointed as Strauss' replacement, and while I do not doubt his batting ability, I am still a tad unsure about if his captain skills match those of his batting. He seems to know what he is doing. But I wonder if he will be able to cope with situations such as the KP affair.

Only time will tell.

The other matter is who will come in and open the batting for England?

There isn't a clear choice for the vacant role, I've heard Trott's name thrown about but I think he is 100% suited to the number 3 role in the side. The same goes for Bell and the number 4 spot.

Alex Hales is one possible player who could come in and open the batting, and he seems to be the best option along with Michael Carberry available to the selectors. Its a tough one, there is no obvious choice waiting in the wings to replace Strauss and we will have to wait and see who replace's Strauss...

Cheers

Good Luck James Taylor

For Gregory

It's the eve of the 2nd Investec test between test giants England and South Africa.


South Africa are currently leading the series which will decide which of the two teams are number 1 in the world, 1-0. And they went 1-0 up in style. Hashim Amla was just a different class...

Posting his best ever total of 311 not out he, with the help of Smith and co they marched on to victory at the Oval with ease. Now England are looking to bounce back at Headingley in order to level the three match series so they can retain their number one ranking. And with the absence of Ravi Bopara (which I'm ecstatic about) James Taylor is looking to stamp his authority on Test cricket in style.

Of course, it's going to be a tough challenge. From playing county championship cricket for Notts to facing Dale Steyn and the rest of the SA attack, which is arguably the strongest attack in the world. But I think he can do it, he's fresh to the international scene and will be full of confidence and enthusiasm - and with the guidance of senior players he can really stamp his authority on this game. A fantastic opportunity for such a young cricketer to showpiece himself to the world in what is, make no mistake about it, a huge spectacle.

With a first class average of just under 50 and several England lions games under his belt he was definitely the right choice of player to come in for Bopara in my opinion. Bairstow had his chance against a poor West Indian bowling attack and didn't impress. And Taylor was simply next in the pecking order. I hope he does well, I think he will do well.

James Taylor may not be the only change to the England side for the second test though, and with the English bowling attack failing in the first test changes may be made. Question marks have been raised over whether Swann may be dropped for an all seam bowling attack. But I think this would be a ridiculous move that would end up with England going down 2-0 in the series. Swann is the best spin bowler in the world in my opinion and would surely get in to every test team on the planet. Why would we drop him?

Steve Finn's name has also been brought forward, if he does come in he is likely to replace Bresnan. But if I was Flower and Strauss (Sadly, I'm not) I would stick with Tim. I think they are of a similar standard, but Bresnan is a good bat. He is head and shoulders above Finn with a piece of wood in his hands and he has got valuable runs before for England. For this reason, along with the fact that Leeds is Tim's home ground, I would definitely stick with him for the Headingly dule.

But Steve has still got a chance of breaking in to the side tomorrow. A few questions marks have been raised regarding Stuart Broad's fitness, and it really isn't a game in which England can afford to carry a player with a knock, which Broad looked throughout the oval test. If Strauss and Flower deem Broad unfit to play, they should and i believe would not hesitate in replacing Broad with the lively Finn. It really is a test which could define the path in which Andrew Strauss' career as England captain could take, lose and more serious questions will be posed regarding Strauss' future, win and he buys himself more valuable time in his quest to dispel the doubts over his place and captaincy of the side.
So here is the side I think will play tomorrow.

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3. Trott
4. Bell
5. Pietersen
6. Taylor
7. Prior
8. Bresnan/Finn
9. Broad
10. Swann
11. Anderson

Lets hope that team will be the one to level the series and help the mighty England go in to the 3rd test with a chance of retaining their number one ranking.

Come on England!