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Andrew Strauss best moments as England captain

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A symphony for Strauss: The best moments from Andrew's tenure as England captain

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UPDATED:

14:56 GMT, 29 August 2012

The news that England captain Andrew Strauss has stepped down from all forms of professional cricket has shocked the game.

But as the national side look forward to a new era under Alistair Cook, it is only right to look back at some of his predecessor's finest moments as skipper.

2009 – Strauss century ignites England's Ashes summer

England had clung on for a draw at Cardiff in the first
test and desperately needed something special at Lord’s to kick-start their
Ashes campaign.

Strauss, having won the toss, produced an exceptional
innings of 161 to take the game to Australia. England would go on to win the
second test by 115 runs and, of course, the series.

2009 – Sporting Strauss reprieves Mathews after controversial run-out

In an exceptional display of sportsmanship, Strauss made
the decision to reprieve Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews after Graham Onions had
blocked his attempt at a second run, allowing Graeme Swann to run him out.

With
the umpires unsure what to do, Mathews was almost back to the pavilion before
Strauss beckoned him back. England went on to win the match by six wickets.

2009 – Strauss leads England fightback in Guyana

After losing the Caribbean Test series 1-0, England had
won the first one-day international on Duckworth-Lewis after the West Indies
coach miscalculated and called his batsmen in for bad light.

Determined to make
amends, the hosts posted 264 in the second ODI in Guyana.

Strauss led from the
front, hitting 105 off 129 balls and almost seeing through the whole innings as
wickets tumbled around him. It was ultimately in a losing cause though as
England were all out for 243.

2010 – Sparkling Strauss guides England to Headingley victory

In a tour that will be forever remembered for the
Pakistan spot-fixing scandal, England sought to complete a hat-trick of series
triumphs by adding the ODI competition to their Test and Twenty20 wins.

Strauss
was at his sparkling best in the second ODI at Headingley, hitting 126 from 134
balls to steer England to victory after Pakistan had set a challenging target
of 294.

2010 – Strauss makes amends with brilliant Brisbane century

Out for a duck in the first innings at Brisbane and in
desperate need for a response after Australia posted a 221-run lead, Strauss
and Cook put on an excellent 188 run opening partnership to haul England back
into contention.

Strauss made 110 and Cook 235, easing England into the test
and the series, which they would eventually win 3-1.

2011 – Captain's Innings from Strauss earns unlikely draw

A classic pool match at the World Cup as Strauss guided England
to an improbable draw in front of a partisan Bangalore crowd. India had hit
338, with the masterful Tendulkar contributing 120. But skipper Strauss topped
that, scoring 158 to get an unlikely share of the spoils.

P.S. A lighter moment as Strauss breaks his own sunglasses against South Africa

Sri Lanka v England: Second Test, day five, Colombo, live

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LIVE: Sri Lanka v England – follow the action on day five of the second Test in Colombo

Stay up to date with all the action on
day five of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England with Sportsmail's
unrivalled team. We'll deliver over-by-over coverage as the action
unfolds at the P Sara Oval in Colombo while our brilliant team of
writers will update with their insights from the ground. Email your thoughts to joe.ridge@dailymail.co.uk or Tweet to @JoeRidge87

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

England:
A Strauss (c), A Cook, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, M Prior (wkt), S Patel, T Bresnan, G Swann, J Anderson, S Finn.

Sri Lanka: T Dilshan, L Thirimanne, K Sangakkara, M
Jayawardene (c), T Samaraweera, A Mathews, P
Jayawardene (wkt), S Randiv, R Herath, S Lakmal, D Prasad.

Umpires: A Rauf (Pak), B Oxenford (Aus).

Third Umpire: R Tucker (Aus).

Match Referee: J Srinath (Ind).

First innings: Sri Lanka 275, England 460.

Click here for a full scorecard

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98th over: Sri Lanka 227-6 (M Jayawardene 59, Mathews 8)

They scamper a quick single with a prod into the off side. Mahela adds one of his own. Edge! But it's wide of Cook. Mathews has ridden his luck this morning. Good from Swann again.

97th over: Sri Lanka 225-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 7)

Anderson continues to Mathews. Edge! It falls well short of second slip. He gets a thick down to third man for one.

96th over: Sri Lanka 224-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 6)

Mathews nudges a single into the off side. Brilliant bowling from Swann who is beating Jayawardene both sides of the bat. He survives though.

WICKET! Jayawardene is reviewing it… This could be huge! It looks like there's an inside edge on Anderson's inswinger… IT'S OVERTURNED! Right decision and a rare mistake by the umpires, the first successful review of the match.

95th over: Sri Lanka 223-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 5)

Jaffa! Anderson squares Mathews up and just beats his edge with one that moves away. Mathews drives a single to extra cover.

94th over: Sri Lanka 222-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 4)

Mathews pushes a single to cover. A couple of half-hearted appeals as Jayawardene offers no shot outside off.

93rd over: Sri Lanka 221-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 3)

Anderson to bowl the second over of the day. He as outstanding without success last night. Jayawardene edges on to his pads and picks up a couple down to fine leg.

92nd over: Sri Lanka 219-6 (M Jayawardene 56, Mathews 3)

Strauss gives the ball to Swann for the first over of the day. A bold statement of intent. Jayawardene is on strike. Close! He beats the edge with the first ball of the day. One swept to fine leg. Drop! Mathews fends to Cook at short leg but he can't grab it low down. Great start!

5.28am: Right then, here we go. The first two wickets are key for England. If they can get them in the first session, they should win. Remember to email or tweet your thoughts by clicking on the links above.

5.26am: That being said, Jayawardene is well on his way to a third century of the series, and his partner Angelo Mathews showed with with 57 in the first innings. After that comes Prasanna Jayawardene, who scored a ton against England in Cardiff last summer. Rangana Herath at 10 has also shown he's capable of slogging a few, so the job is far from done and the hosts will still fancy their chances of a draw. Mind you, the way England's fifth innings have gone this summer they may fancy their chances with a lead of 120!

5.23am: The draw was the looking like the favourite result after Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera put on 90 for the fifth wicket. But Swann's removal of the latter, quickly followed by the wicket of the nightwatchman Suraj Randiv, has left the hosts in peril.

5.16am: As far as the match situation goes, England are firmly in the driving seat, thanks largely to two wickets late last night from Graeme Swann. Sri Lanka are leading by just 33 runs with only four wickets remaining, so they are effectively 33-6.

In control: Jayawardene brought up his half century in the evening session on day three

In control: Jayawardene brought up his half century in the evening session on day three

5.12am: Before play gets under way, make sure you read our experts' verdicts…

Paul Newman's report on day four is here.

Top Spin at the Test is here.

Tillekeratne Dilshan tells Lawrence Booth he didn't edge the ball he was given out to on day four here.

And our experts give their views on the ongoing DRS debate here.

5.07am:
Anyway, I'm not going to start ranting at the ICC as I'd be opening
several cans of worms. Instead I'm looking forward to what promises to
be a dramatic day of cricket on what is an increasing rarity: a fifth
day. Incredibly, you have to go back five matches since we saw a Test
involving England last five days – the fifth Test against India at the
Oval in September.

5.03am: What
a travesty it is that this series only lasts two matches, it feels like
we're just getting started! Personally I think it should be a
regulation that every Test series lasts at least three matches.

5.00am: Good morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the fifth and final day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo.

What a finish: Swann took two wickets in his final over on day three

What a finish: Swann took two wickets in his final over on day three

Vice-captain Mathews returns for Sri Lanka for second Test

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Vice-captain Mathews returns for Sri Lanka for second Test

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UPDATED:

13:03 GMT, 31 March 2012

Sri Lanka have made two changes to their squad for the second Test against England.

Back: Mathews

Back: Mathews

All-rounder Angelo Mathews, who is also the vice-captain of the side, is back in the squad after missing the hosts' first Test victory with a calf strain.

He takes the place of Chamara Silva in the squad and will be available only as a batsman, placing Dinesh Chandimal in most danger of losing his place in the XI.

Left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedera, who took the new ball in the 75-run win in Galle, has been struggling with a groin strain and is not fit to play at the P.Sara Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.

Shaminda Eranga, who has one Test cap, has been called up in his place and will do battle with Dhammika Prasad for a spot in the team.

Sri Lanka's first Test victory was their first on home soil since Muttiah Muralitharan's retirement in July 2010.

Jadeja and Ashwin hold their nerve and guide India to victory over Sri Lanka

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Jadeja and Ashwin hold their nerve and guide India to victory over Sri Lanka

India survived a late scare to hang
on for a Virat Kohli-inspired four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the
Commonwealth Bank Series match at the WACA Ground.

India seemed to be cruising to their
target of 234 – at one point needing just 77 runs off 98 balls to win
with seven wickets in hand – before they lost three for 24 in a middle
order collapse which saw them slump to 181 for six.

Close call: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) attempts to run out Angelo Mathews

Close call: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) attempts to run out Angelo Mathews

But all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja hit 24 off 28 balls and tail-ender Ravichandran Ashwin added 30 off 38 to steady the ship with an unbeaten 53-run seventh wicket stand to guide India home with 20 balls to spare.

In-form batsman Kohli had earlier set them up for victory with an impressive 77 off 94, but he ran himself out at a crucial stage of India's innings and injured himself in the process.

Kohli required assistance to leave the ground with an apparent left leg injury suffered while diving to avoid the run out.

Still waiting: Sachin Tendulkar stuck on 99 centuries

Still waiting: Sachin Tendulkar stuck on 99 centuries

Sachin Tendulkar also played an important role in India's chase but again fell short of his 100th international century, dismissed after looking at ease through most of his innings when he chopped the ball onto his stumps for 48 off 63.

The 38-year-old's quest for his
100th ton has now gone on for nearly a year and has included six one-day
international innings and 21 Test knocks.

But along with Kohli and a vastly improved bowling performance,
Tendulkar still helped to lead India to their first win of the
tri-series in a big confidence boost for their struggling side.

Sri Lanka always faced an uphill battle after they were restricted to
233 for eight by excellent bowling spells from Ashwin, who took three
for 32 off 10 overs, and paceman Zaheer Khan, who took two for 44.

Youngster Dinesh Chandimal (64 off 81) was the best of Sri Lanka's batsman, while Angelo Mathews' 33 not out off 28 helped lift a run-rate which had been poor for much of the innings in the latter overs.

Despite the best efforts of
all-rounder Mathews, who took two for 30 off 9.3 overs and the rest of
Sri Lanka's bowlers, their modest total gave them little hope of winning
in Graham Ford's first game in charge.

Sri Lanka have now won just two of their 16 50-over games at the WACA, a
record they will be desperate to improve in Friday's match against
Australia.

After losing
struggling opener Virender Sehwag for four early in their chase, India
soon recovered through Tendulkar and Kohli's 75-run stand before Mathews
dismissed the 'Little Master'.

He's gone: India's Virat Kohli lies on the pitch after being run out

He's gone: India's Virat Kohli lies on the pitch after being run out

Kohli and Rohit Sharma then guided the score to 122 before the latter fell for 10 to a spectacular Tillakaratne Dilshan catch off Thisara Perera's bowling.

After Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni fell in consecutive overs, their chase hit a major hurdle when Kohli was comfortably run out while attempting a suicidal single to put his side in big trouble.

But Jadeja and Ashwin showed great composure and guided India to victory in front of a crowd of 6685.

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 258 runs in ODI

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Sri Lanka humiliated by South Africa but avoid lowest ever one-day total

Sri Lanka crumbled to a humiliating 258-run defeat against South Africa in the first one-day international at Paarl.

The tourists, in reply to South Africa's imposing 50-over score of 301 for eight, were dismissed for just 43.

At one stage Sri Lanka looked in serious danger of posting a new lowest total in one-day international history.

Easy does it: South Africa Robin Peterson celebrates as they win the match

Easy does it: South Africa Robin Peterson celebrates as they win the match

Although they avoided that embarrassment, they were no match for a South Africa attack which saw Morne Morkel take four wickets for 10 runs and Lonwabo Tsotsobe three for 19 in the opener of the five-match series.

The problems started with the second ball of the innings when Upul Tharanga went without scoring, caught by Jean-Paul Duminy off Morkel.

It was four for two after seven balls when Tillakaratne Dilshan also departed without scoring, edging a Tsotsobe delivery to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.

Dinesh Chandimal got an inside edge on a Tsotsobe delivery and went for four, and eight for three became nine for five after five overs as Morkel had Kumar Sangakkara caught behind by de Villiers for four, then two balls later Robin Peterson caught Angelo Mathews for a duck.

Runs: Kosala Kulasekara top scored for Sri Lanka with 19

Runs: Kosala Kulasekara top scored for Sri Lanka with 19

Mahela Jayawardene became Tsotsobe's third victim when he went for two, caught by Faf du Plessis with the scoreboard reading 13 – and when Nuwan Kulasekara went for six, caught by du Plessis off Dale Steyn for six, Sri Lanka were 24 for seven.

Nine runs had been added to the total when Lasith Malinga played across the line to a Peterson delivery and departed for just one.

Kosala Kulasekara was given out lbw to a Morkel delivery but the decision was reviewed and Sri Lanka's top scorer was given a reprieve, keeping him at the crease with three still needed to pass Zimbabwe's record low ODI score of 35, against Sri Lanka in 2004.

Too early: Albie Morkel celebrates prematurely as the decision on the wicket of Kosala Kulasekara is reversed

Too early: Albie Morkel celebrates prematurely as the decision on the wicket of Kosala Kulasekara is reversed

However, the end was nigh for Sri Lanka when he holed out to Peterson for 19 off the bowling of Morkel – and the slow left-armer finished the contest when he trapped last man Dilhara Fernando lbw first ball.

Their score of 43 was the joint fourth lowest in ODI history.

Earlier, Hashim Amla made 112, Jacques Kallis 72 and de Villiers 52 as the hosts piled on the runs before losing their last five wickets for just 22 runs.

They had to recover from an early blow, though, with Test captain Graeme Smith out for just six as he suffered another one-day failure, having now made only one half century in his last 14 ODI outings.

Three figures: South African batsman Hashim Amla holds his bat up in the air as he makes a century on his way to 112

Three figures: South African batsman Hashim Amla holds his bat up in the air as he makes a century on his way to 112

He had already offered a chance on the previous delivery from Malinga before edging another into the gloves of Sangakkara.

But any hopes Sri Lanka had of attacking the South African top order were soon dismissed as Amla and Kallis began to pile on the runs.

They had moved the score on to 153 in the 29th over before some poor running gifted Kallis' wicket to the tourists, run out thanks to a strike from Jayawardene in the covers.

Even so, Sri Lankan joy was again short-lived as De Villiers stepped in and quickly got the runs flowing once more, needing only 40 balls to make 52 before he was picked off by a yorker from Nuwan Kulasekara with the score on 244.

Albie Morkel made a quick 25 but when he and Amla fell in successive balls to Malinga, South Africa began to wilt.

Duminy added just one, and Malinga then removed du Plessis and Steyn in the final over to claim figures of five for 53.

Cricket: South Africa thrash Sri Lanka to claim series win

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South Africa thrash Sri Lanka in Cape Town to claim series win

South Africa completed a series victory over Sri Lanka with a 10-wicket win in the decisive third Test in Cape Town.

Sri Lanka resumed on 138 for four, still 203 runs behind having followed on, but were given hope when Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews batted through the fourth morning.

Their stand of 142 was ended when Mathews was trapped lbw for 63 by a Vernon Philander delivery which kept low and, although Samaraweera (115 not out) completed a second century in successive Tests, that wicket was the beginning of the end and they were bowled out for 342.

Victory: Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith pose with their trophies after claiming a comfortable win in Cape Town

Victory: Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith pose with their trophies after claiming a comfortable win in Cape Town

That left the hosts with just two to chase and, after tea was taken despite the meagre chase in prospect, Alviro Petersen returned to punch a Dhammika Prasad no-ball for four.

South Africa v Sri Lanka

Click here for full scorecard from third Test

After a brisk start, Samaraweera survived a referral when Dale Steyn's caught-behind appeal was turned down, replays supporting the verdict that the ball came off the thigh pad alone.

The batsmen continued to make solid progress and Samaraweera steered Imran Tahir past the slips for two to reach a deserved half-century. But he had a let-off when he set off for a run but was sent back by Mathews, and had given up on making his ground by the time Morne Morkel's throw from point flashed just past the stumps.

The hundred partnership came up when Samaraweera swept Tahir for four, before Mathews brought up his seventh Test half-century with a single to mid-wicket off Steyn.

Despite a couple of loose shots outside off stump, and Philander's vociferous lbw appeal against Mathews from the last ball before lunch, the pair survived to the interval.

The stand was a record for Sri Lanka's fifth wicket against South Africa, and another landmark arose when Samaraweera plundered 14 runs from the second over after lunch to reach 300 in the three-match series. But Mathews was soon sent on his way for 63, after a futile referral, as Philander's short-pitched ball kept almost unplayably low and struck him in front of off stump.

Ton up: Thilan Samaraweera celebrates after reaching his century

Ton up: Thilan Samaraweera celebrates after reaching his century

New man Dinesh Chandimal made just one
before fencing Philander to second slip where man of the match Jacques
Kallis reacted superbly to take a good catch.

But Samaraweera reached three figures with a cut behind square off Tahir for his 13th boundary, from his 201st delivery. His stand with Thisara Perera passed 50, and the team total reached 300 for six, courtesy of the wildest five wides imaginable from Steyn but Perera's contribution ended at 30 when he hoisted Tahir to Morkel at long-on.

rasad almost went the same way but Morkel this time grassed the chance. Prasad continued to swing lustily, though, and when he advanced out of his ground against Tahir he was stumped by Mark Boucher for 16.
That brought last man Chanaka Welegedara to the wicket with his side still 14 in arrears, and he was fortunate to cut the deficit to 10 as Graeme Smith got a hand to his lofted drive.

But he then blazed Kallis for four over cover and then dumped him into the sightscreen to stave off a second innings defeat of the series – before losing his leg stump to leave the target at just two.

Samaraweera was stranded on 115 not out while Philander took three for 54, Jacques Kallis recorded figures of three for 35 despite Welegedara's onslaught and Imran Tahir bagged three for 106.

After the needless break, South Africa completed the shortest chase on record when Petersen drove an opening no-ball from Prasad for four, meaning the target was reached without a legitimate delivery being bowled.

South Africa cruise to victory against Sri Lanka in first Test

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Philander makes light work of Sri Lanka as South Africa cruise to victory in first Test

Vernon Philander furthered his growing reputation as South Africa thumped Sri Lanka by an innings and 81 runs in the first Test at Centurion on Saturday.

Philander completed the wide-margin victory with his 10th wicket of the match as Sri Lanka were skittled for 150 to lose inside three days.

High fives: South Africa

High fives: South Africa”s Vernon Philander celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan

South Africa v Sri Lanka

Click here for a full scorecard

After taking five wickets in the first innings, Philander followed it up with figures of five for 49 as Sri Lanka”s batsmen capitulated for the second time in the match.

It was Philander”s fourth five-wicket haul, in just his third Test, and with Dale Steyn the 26-year-old is fast forming one of the most threatening new-ball partnerships.

After South Africa were eventually bowled out for 411 early on Saturday morning, when Mark Boucher edged behind off Chanaka Welegedara, Philander immediately got to work.

Easy pickings: Mark Boucher celebrates reaching a half century

Easy pickings: Mark Boucher celebrates reaching a half century

The right-armer removed Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara, both caught by wicketkeeper Boucher, with the new ball as Sri Lanka crashed to four for 37.

Boucher , who took six catches in the innings, was in the action again when Steyn located the edge of opener Tharanga Paranavitana”s bat before Jacques Kallis ran out Mahela Jayawardene.

The tourists” miserable start was made worse as Jayawardene was caught short attempting the run that would have made him the first Sri Lankan to reach 10,000 Test runs.

Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews briefly stopped the flow of wickets, in a 29-run stand, but Philander was in inspired form and he produced a delivery that left Mathews just enough to catch the edge and fly through to Boucher.

Four balls later Samaraweera followed, edging yet another catch to Boucher off Morne Morkel, to depart for 32.

The wickets continued to tumble before Philander wrapped things up when he removed the final two to complete his 10-wicket haul.

He first held on to a catch off his own bowling after Welegedara top-edged an ambitious slog before finishing matters when, fittingly, he had Rangana Herath caught by Boucher.