Wet weather shelters washed-out Strauss
THE DOWNPOURS that have affected the county programme lately will have left many cricketers kicking their heels, but one man who has reason to be thankful for rain is Andrew Strauss.
Under-fire England captain Strauss has taken to the crease for Middlesex in an attempt to rediscover a semblance of form before the Test series against the West Indies begins in a fortnight.
A dire winter in the Emirates and Sri Lanka has led to questions about his place in the team, and six runs from two innings in his recent appearance against Durham did little to lift his spirits.
But the washouts affecting the County Championship have done him a favour, because they have stopped any potential challengers to his position as England opener from mounting a sustained charge.
The current central contract system means there are fewer chances for emerging talents to work their way into the national team. It’s not a completely closed shop, but the door is heavy and only slightly ajar.
It’s not that England are short of batsmen altogether – Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel are all scrapping for their places – but opening batsman is a specialist position.
Yorkshire’s Joe Root has been touted for a breakthrough, but the postponed matches and soggy, bowler-friendly pitches mean neither he nor anyone else can say “Here I am, I’ve scored three hundreds – pick me”.
Strauss, meanwhile, is doing exactly the right thing in returning to county level to fashion some form as no amount of batting in nets can substitute scoring a ton – or even 80 or 90.
Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, may disagree but, in the cases of Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan, it’s the best way to find your rhythm or sharpen your fitness.
Andy Lloyd is a former England Test cricketer, and captain and later chairman of Warwickshire.