On this day in 2007: Sir Andrew Strauss resigns as England Test captain

Strauss also retired from cricket as Sir Alastair Cook was announced as England’s new skipper.

Pa Sport Staff
Tuesday 29 August 2023 06:00 BST
Andrew Strauss (left) resigned as England captain to be immediately replaced by Alastair Cook. (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Andrew Strauss (left) resigned as England captain to be immediately replaced by Alastair Cook. (Andrew Matthews/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir Andrew Strauss brought the curtain down on one of the most successful eras in English cricket on this day in 2012, announcing his resignation as Test captain and retirement from the game.

Strauss, 35, blamed his faltering batting form for the decision to bow out on exactly 100 Test caps as he was revered as one his country’s finest-ever leaders, an endlessly dignified presence on and off the field and a captain who led the side to success 24 times in 50 Tests.

That record places him fifth behind Joe Root, Sir Alastair Cook, Michael Atherton and Michael Vaughan as his country’s most experienced skipper and joint third in terms of matches won.

But he will primarily be remembered as a man who masterminded home and away Ashes wins in 2009 and 2010-11 and became the first England captain to get his hands on the ICC mace awarded to the world’s number one Test team.

His successor as captain was confirmed as his opening partner Cook, with Strauss starting a career in commentary before becoming the first-ever director of England cricket in May 2015 before resigning in 2018.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in