Strauss enters frame for Ashes captaincy
Duncan Fletcher has indicated that Andrew Strauss could well be in contention for the England captaincy in this winter's Ashes, after bouncing back from a 5-0 drubbing in the one-dayers against Sri Lanka to secure the team's first Test series victory for
Cricinfo staff
10-Aug-2006
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"Andrew has captained very well in the sense that he has started with a new side," Fletcher told reporters after the Headingley Test. "It wasn't easy for him going through that loss to Sri Lanka but he is a really strong character.
"Nothing has highlighted that more than the fact that being captain hasn't really affected him," added Fletcher. "He has got hundreds in the second innings twice against Pakistan, which is the hardest time to get hundreds."
Strauss himself hinted that he would be keen to keep hold of the captaincy when Andrew Flintoff returns from injury, saying: "Anyone would love to be the England captain. I don't think that changes whether you've done three Test matches or no Test matches.
"I've enjoyed doing the job over the last three Tests, but as far as I know, Fred's coming back for the winter. All we want is for the England team to do as well as possible out in Australia."
Flintoff, however, has played just three Tests this summer, and is not expected to recover from ankle surgery until the eve of the first Test against Australia, at Brisbane on November 23. Strauss is expected to remain England's leader in the interim, starting with next week's Oval Test, and continuing through the one-dayers against Pakistan and the Champions Trophy in October.
"That is the kind of thing we have to keep in house amongst the selectors," Fletcher said of the captaincy conundrum. "Every time we meet we debate certain positions but at this stage we have spoken about Freddie being a natural leader in Australia and we will have to talk more when the time comes."