I find it a tad irritating that Andrew Strauss’ retirement from all forms of international cricket is accredited to Graeme Smith and the Proteas.
If anyone cares to ask Graeme Smith he will probably say he respects Strauss immensely and that he will not take any credit for the former England captain’s resignation.
In 2003 the Proteas, captained by Smith, brought an unexpected end to the captaincy of Nasser Husain and in 2008 the scenario repeated itself when Smith and his touring party made life on the field unbearable for Michael Vaughan; also prompting him to retire as England’s captain.
Husain and Vaughan crumbled under the Protea pressure and opted out.
The South African born Strauss is as tough as nails and it is highly unlikely that he was demoralised by the South Africans to the extent that he ran for cover like his predecessors did.
There is nothing, not even remotely similar between Strauss’ retirement and that of Messrs Husain and Vaughan.
Strauss is probably right when he say his race is run and that his inability to score runs is a sign that he is past his best.
If Strauss says so I believe him; but I think his inability to contribute with the bat in recent times was a direct result of the immature and bizarre relationship between KP Pietersen and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The intensity of the infighting between KP and the ECB, and there never-ending hate-love relationship, made it almost impossible for Strauss to focus on all his responsibilities and his batting paid the price.
If Strauss was not the decent person he is he would probably have told KP and the ECB to get stuffed and that he had enough of them.
Instead of shoving Hugh Morris, managing director of the ECB a finger for making the captaincy job almost impossible Strauss merely said his cheerios.
After the sms’ between KP and some of the Proteas and the pathetic manner Morris and the ECB dealt with it, reconciliation between KP and Strauss became impossible.
The ECB’s insistence that the contents of the sms’ should be made public by KP broadened the distrust Strauss developed in his team-mate.
It is general knowledge that Strauss placed trust between team-mates above all else and that the situation brought about by the Pietersen saga hurt and drained him.
Being the man he is, Strauss clearly decided that KP could not return under his captaincy. He realised that England need KP more than him and to pave the way for his former team-mate’s return to the England squad he had to retire as captain.
The scenario surrounding the resignation of Strauss is nothing less than a shame and definitely not a matter which the Proteas will rejoice in or claim responsibility for.
The appointment of Alistair Cook as captain was a formality but filling Strauss’ boots and realigning the team with the presence of KP will not be an easy task.
Cook would probably love not having KP around but with England all of a sudden in a rebuilding mode he cannot afford to ignore the South African batting genius.
It would boil down to cricketing suicide if Cook decides to take on the likes of India and the Australians without Strauss, KP, an established number 6 and probably also Graeme Swann.
In times to follow Cook will realise that the captaincy of England is not a doddle. He will find out that there is no one he can really trust or rely on for support when the team fails.
Because such is the nature of cricket in England: when the team fails the media, ECB and the public holds one person accountable; the captain.
Hamba Kahle Andrew Strauss. My wish for you is that you will again learn to enjoy the game of cricket, albeit as a spectator.
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The Proteas played a major part in his retirement. They knew that he was under the cosh because of his batting and that would also have an effect on his whole mindset during the series. They never allowed him to anchor an Eng innings which eventually helped him over the retirement line. I can guarantee you that if he had had performed with the bat – and like wise Eng – he would have reconsidered his initial decision. Yes, we managed to keep him running on empty and can lay claim to his scalp.
Ok wait, so you believe Strauss is a good guy and believe him when he says he quits because of his bad form, btu you don’t believe him when he says he most likely would have stayed on had England won the series?
My point is very simple: I believe Strauss on all accounts. I do not believe he left because of the Proteas and Graeme Smith. I believe his retirement from all cricket has nothing to do with the Proteas dominating and winning the series. I believe he was sick and tired of the ECB and Kev; but that he is too much of a gentleman to be sucked into their stupid feud. Paul Collingwood, a close friend of Strauss, said the latter was planning to lay down the captaincy at the end of the series even before the Proteas arrived. When the ECB and Kev fell out again he decided: enough.
I think you miss the point, It’s not about who or why Strauss retired but rather the fact that the Proteas, under the leadership of Graeme Smith have cause 3 English captains to retire/resign during or right after their Test series against England. Are you telling me that had England won the series and Strauss scored big runs that he would still have quit? thats rubish and no matter what ECB or strauss or an England players say, the reason Strauss quit is because South Africa put him under huge pressure.
That is exactly what I tell you, Smith and the Proteas had nothing to do with Strauss’ resigning. The KP fiasco, and only that made Strauss quit. With the bat, the worst was over. Strauss could have redeemed himself in India where the bowling is not hostile at all. He left because KP will return and the fight between him and the ECB will continue. Strauss had enough of England’s cricket administrators and the Saffers-issue.
What do you smoke Hugo? Not “I think” or “In my opinion” or even “it seems to me”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such misplaced certainty of OPINION has led countries to war and saints to perdition.