Having made his test debut the previous summer against New Zealand, Andrew Strauss was a regular in the England side by the advent of the 2005 home Ashes series against Australia. Along with the rest of the top order he made little impression in his first innings of the series, dismissed by Glenn McGrath for just 2 as England managed only 155. Australia controlled the Lord’s test, and by the time England batted again they required an unlikely 420 to win. Strauss contributed 37 as they fell woefully short, all out for 180. England enjoyed a change of fortune when the series moved to Birmingham. Partly due to an injury to McGrath they found batting much easier, and amassed over 400 in their first innings. Strauss came close to his first Ashes fifty, registering 48. England were in a dominant position with a hundred run lead when they came to bat again, but Strauss was first out for 2, and his teammates also struggled as Australia fought back. England were dismissed for 182 leaving Australia needing 282 to win. They came desperately close but were eventually bowled out for 279. Strauss’s average series continued into the first innings at Old Trafford, where he was once again first man out, bowled for 6. But as England again gave themselves a healthy first innings lead, Strauss finally came good in the second innings, hitting a classy 106 from 158 balls, with nine 4's and two 6's. Despite his heroics England could not force a victory in the match, as Australia clung on with nine wickets down to grab a draw. The series remained locked at 1-1 going into the fourth test at Trent Bridge. Strauss had a fairly average game with the bat in Nottingham, contributing 35 to a healthy first innings total of 477. He then took two crucial catches as England bowled Australia out cheaply, forcing them to follow on. The Aussies fought back to some extent, setting England a victory target of 129, and although Strauss was third man out for 23 with the score on just 57, the hosts squeezed home with 3 wickets remaining, to take a vital lead into the final test. Needing just a draw to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 1987, England were desperate for another big first innings total at the Oval, and Strauss provided the basis for it with a combative 129, leading the side to 373. But Australia would not lie down, they batted to within touching distance of the England total, and then set about the search for early wickets. Strauss was the first victim, falling for 1. It was a disappointing end to his personal contribution to the series, but England, inspired by Kevin Pietersen, went on to draw the match, and Strauss could be proud of playing a part in the first series victory over Australia in almost twenty years.
Strauss Struggles for Consistency in Australia
By the winter of 2006 England had already undergone severe fluctuations since beating Australia at home. Strauss had been made stand-in captain after injury to Michael Vaughan. But for the Ashes series in Australia leadership was handed to Andrew Flintoff, and Strauss returned to the ranks. Like the rest of the side he struggled in Brisbane, making scores of 11 and 12 as England were roundly beaten by 277 runs. England had lost the first test of 2005 and fought back, and they attempted to do the same at Adelaide. Despite the loss of Strauss for 14, they managed a handsome first innings total. But Australia were in no mood to submit, and in the second innings England found themselves sliding into trouble. Strauss top scored with 34 as they were bowled out for 129. Australia took full advantage of the lapse and went on to win the match by 6 wickets. Having declared on 551 in their first innings, England had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and their confidence was shattered. Strauss hit 42 at the third test in Perth, but England still failed to match the Australian total of 244. The home side piled on the misery in their second innings, eventually setting England 557 to win. Strauss made a duck as England lost by 206 runs. Strauss finally made his first half century of the series in the Melbourne test, but his was the only score of note in a total of 159. In the second innings he top scored again, but with only 31 as England lost by an innings. Australia sensed blood for the final test, knowing that a 5-0 victory was within their grasp. Strauss was again unable to turn starts into big scores, dismissed for 29 and 24 as England lost by 10 wickets and slid to a humiliating whitewash.
Strauss Leads England to Ashes Victory
By 2009 Strauss was back as England captain, now in the job full-time, and expectations were high for a series which could match the excitement of 2005, and expunge the memories of 2006/7. In the first test at Cardiff Strauss made 30 as England reached 435, but they still conceded a large first innings lead, and when Strauss was among several early second innings wickets, it looked as though they would slip to defeat. A gritty innings from Paul Collingwood and a fraught last wicket stand eventually secured a draw. England needed to regain the initiative at Lord’s and Strauss led from the front, hitting a majestic 161 to help his side to a total of 425. Australia were all out for 215, but Strauss elected not to enforce the follow on. He made 32 out of a rapid 311 for 6 declared, and although Michael Clarke led yet another Australian comeback, England kept their opponents at arms length and ultimately won by 115 runs. England remained in control as the series moved on to Edgbaston, with Strauss scoring a first innings 69 to help his side into a useful lead. However with no play on the third day, and Australia finding batting comfortable in their second innings, the match fizzled out into a draw. Strauss then made an error of captaincy at Headingley, electing to bat after winning the toss, he was out for 3 as England were blown away for 102. Australia amassed a lead of more than 300, and then struck at England again, Strauss made 32 but even with a breezy lower order stand between Broad and Swann England were still 80 runs short of making their opponents bat again. The series was level going into the final test, and Strauss’s chance of emulating Vaughan and winning the Ashes seemed to be slipping away. All hope was not extinguished however, and Strauss led the way at the Oval with 55 in a score of 332. Australia then collapsed to 160 all out as batting suddenly seemed to become more difficult, and England were reduced to 39-3 in their second innings. But Strauss hung in, making 75 to help England turn the corner and set the Australians a huge target of 546 to win the series. Despite a century from Mike Hussey, Australia fell well short, and Strauss was able claim possession of the famous urn... at least until the winter of 2010/11.
In total Strauss has played 15 matches against Australia, averaging 38.41 and hitting 3 centuries. However there is a marked difference between his performances at home and away. In 2005 he averaged 39.30, and in 2009 an impressive 52.66, but his figures for the series in Australia were less impressive. In the 2006/7 Ashes he made just 247 runs at 24.70, with a high score of 50.
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