Strauss the right man to lead England in the World Cup
The calls for Andrew Strauss to be dropped from England’s one-day side ahead of the 2011 World Cup appear to be unending, despite his recent match-winning hundred against Pakistan
Tariq Engineer
25-Feb-2013
The calls for Andrew Strauss to be dropped from England’s one-day side ahead of the 2011 World Cup appear to be unending, despite his recent match-winning hundred against Pakistan. Strauss doesn’t have the attacking shots necessary to succeed in the subcontinent, his critics say. Not everyone agrees, however. Writing in the Independent, Stephen Brenkley thinks this line of thinking misses the big picture.
Since his career restarted early last year, he has batted 32 times at an average of 42.03, scoring those runs at 5.19 an over, hitting 145 fours, 4.5 an innings, and 13 sixes. The increased aggression and its results are plain.
But there is much more to Strauss's place in the team than that. He is the captain and his importance in that role cannot be underestimated. There can be no room for sentiment in selecting sporting teams (although, on the other hand if there is no room for it in sport, where is there?) but Strauss's position embraces a great deal more.
Tariq Engineer is a former senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo