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By Alison Wildey
LONDON Aug 29 (Reuters) – England captain Andrew Strauss,
who oversaw back-to-back Ashes wins over Australia and took the
team to the top of the test rankings, announced his retirement
from professional cricket on Wednesday.
Strauss, appointed in 2009, will be replaced by one-day
skipper Alastair Cook.
“It’s a very tough decision to make. For me, the drive to it
all was my form with the bat and in truth I haven’t batted well
for a long period of time now,” the 35-year-old opener told a
news conference at Lord’s.
“For a captain to perform his role properly, it’s important
that you’re not a passenger in the side but also that people
aren’t speculating whether you should be in the side or not.
“It hasn’t been something that’s occurred overnight it’s a
gradual feeling that has grown over the last six or 12 months
and certainly in the last few weeks has become more apparent
that this is the right time.
“I’d very much like to go out on my own terms with my head
held high,” added Strauss.
His decision was the climax of a difficult few weeks during
which England batsman Kevin Pietersen was dropped for the third
and final test against South Africa after sending what the
player conceded were ‘provocative’ text messages about his team
mates and management to opposition players.
Continued…
