Welcome to my blog. I am a former local journalist who now works in PR and a Conservative and community activist in Woking and Horsell. This blog will keep updated on local issues as well as my interests and quirky news stories.
Last month, I feared that despite a victory at Lord’s, I might be here today reconciling myself to an Ashes defeat. They got a hiding at Headingley but England have shown great spirit in coming back to such a resounding victory at the Oval.
There are different types of captain. Some lead through great insight into the game and his players. Others have less insight but can balance this with consistent performances. Others yet seem to have shaky thinking about the game but can inspire a team with great batting displays. Andrew Strauss is one such captain, whose resilience against everything the Aussies threw at him has been the single main factor behind English success.
The averages are clear – the England captain was the leading run scorer in the series and with a 52 average was the only England player to average more than 35. His runs were more than the margin of victory at Lord’s, helped enforce the follow-on at Edgbaston and made the margin of victory at the Oval that much more comfortable for the bowlers.
At Cardiff and Headingley, where Strauss failed, England failed. And some of his captaincy decisions were odd, to say the least. But at the moment, he’s captain fantastic. Long may he stay so.
