Andrew Strauss endured another unproductive day at Uxbridge as Middlesex's County Championship Division Two match against Gloucestershire ended in a dull draw. Strauss finished the game as he had started it, fielding at first slip and failing to hold onto any catch that came his way, as Gloucestershire opted not to try to manufacture a result on the final day despite winning themselves a 134-run lead by wrapping up the Middlesex first innings for 325 inside the first hour.

Gloucestershire, to the displeasure of a sparse crowd, then opted to bat through to the close at 229 for 8, refusing to set Middlesex a target and - more realistically - giving themselves an outside chance of a win which would have catapulted them above their opponents and into second place in Division Two.

Strauss missed two catches in Gloucestershire's first innings, with the declaration not coming until the third morning because of a weather-hit second day in which just 10.1 overs were bowled. He then scored only two before being trapped leg before wicket by Jon Lewis - and that became Strauss' only innings of the match due to Gloucestershire's ultra-conservative approach.

Needing time at the crease in a bid to recapture some batting form ahead of the Test series against India, which starts on July 21, Strauss will now have two weeks without any cricket before guesting for Somerset in their three-day tourist fixture against the Indians at Taunton, starting on July 15.

Angus Fraser, the Middlesex director of cricket, confirmed that Strauss has no plans to play any club cricket in the next fortnight. Middlesex second XI, meanwhile, have no scheduled matches in this period.

Middlesex required 27 runs to avoid the follow-on when they resumed on 283 for 7 and, despite the early loss of Tim Murtagh who fell lbw to Lewis for seven, a ninth-wicket stand of 39 between Chris Rogers and Anthony Ireland ensured the hosts would not be asked to bat again.

Rogers was eventually bowled middle stump by David Payne for 148, made in just over six hours at the crease and featuring two sixes and 17 fours from 263 balls, and Payne then yorked Ireland (16) to uproot his off stump.

Murtagh sent back Hamish Marshall (9), with a smart low catch in his follow-through, Chris Dent (19) and Chris Taylor (8) in an excellent new-ball spell, and when Steven Crook bowled first-innings centurion Ian Cockbain for eight the Gloucestershire second innings was wobbling a little on 65 for 4.

Strauss, however, put down a relatively straightforward waist-high chance when Richard Coughtrie was on nought, off Crook. That would have left Gloucestershire on 75 for 5 but, instead, Coughtrie scored 40 and stayed with Kane Williamson, who made a fine 73 from 98 balls, to add 94 for the fifth wicket.

The match drifted to the draw after tea, which Gloucestershire took 331 runs ahead at 197 for 6, with Strauss given one over of his left-arm slow-medium to relieve the boredom.