Cricket: Strauss Tunes Up for Ashes

Seven consecutive victories, their first one-day final since 1992, England's cricketers are on a roll. They have reached the happy position where the selection dilemma is who to leave out rather than who to draft in. When Michael Vaughan was injured early in the summer they called up Andrew Strauss and he responded by making a century in each of his Lord's Tests. When Graham Thorpe retired from one-day cricket they called upon Strauss to fill his role as the team's finisher. The intention had been that Strauss solve a short-term problem, instead he looks set to fill two roles in the long-term.

'It's been a fantastic summer for me personally,' says Strauss. 'I'd never have dreamed of doing what I've done and, more importantly, it's been a privilege to be part of this England side and what they've achieved. It's pretty satisfying.'

Which among the many achievements was the most satisfying? 'For me, beating the Australians was the highlight of the summer. I felt we had a real opportunity to show how far we have come as a side. Psychologically, it was more important for us than them. To prove to ourselves that we could beat them.'

Having achieved this for the first time in more than five years they reverted to type by surprising everyone, not least their opponents, by proving they could lose to the West Indies. 'There was no doubt that it was devastating,' he says. 'We had them at 140 for eight. But it shows you that when a side isn't under pressure to score runs quickly it can be hard to force people out.'

He is suitably complimentary to the West Indies pair, Ian Bradshaw and Courtenay Browne, who finished the job for their side and their decision not to take the light even though it was dark and Steve Harmison was flinging it down at speeds in the mid-90s. 'It was a tough one,' he says. 'They had a lot of momentum going in their favour and they could almost sense that we were searching around for ideas as to how to get them out. It was a brave decision and they played Harmison really well. Fair play to them.'

One reason for his success is that he wasn't selected until he was 27. 'It has definitely helped. I wouldn't have been ready even two years ago. I've only been playing professional cricket since I was 21 [he spent three years reading economics at Durham University] whereas others started at 17.' He has always been something of a late developer. At Caldicott prep school, where you might have expected a future England player to make a prodigious amount of runs, he 'didn't really. I was in the first XI for three years but I struggled to get the ball off the square. I only scored my first fifty at 11 or 12. I just didn't have the power. I didn't make my first century until I was 15 playing for Radley against an Australian side for the Silk Trophy. That made a big difference to my confidence.'

Radley has become a successful breeding-ground for first-class cricketers. As well as Strauss, alumni include Robin Martin-Jenkins at Sussex and Ben Hutton and Jamie Dalrymple at Middlesex. Bert Robinson has been coaching at Radley for 55 years. 'Cricket's always been a great thing here,' he says, 'and I think people send their boys because they have been told that they will get the best treatment. Andy was always a good player. But I didn't think he'd get to this height. I think Jamie Dalrymple may prove to be the best of the lot.'

The public-school education has led, as is so often the case, to an unfortunate nickname. 'I've been trying my hardest to get people to stop calling me Lord Brockett,' he says. 'But it is taking a long time and I haven't really succeeded.'

It is a rare failure. Perhaps the only other one coming during a season for the Middlesex seconds, while he was at Durham, when he averaged a miserable 13. 'It was the only moment when I doubted myself and thought, "Hang on a sec, I might not have what it takes to be a professional cricketer." I took a long hard look at myself and realised that if I wanted to play properly I would have to go to the gym and get fit. It was the only time I thought I might fail. It was fairly demoralising for a while. I made a couple of technical changes and since then everything has gone fairly well. There's been the odd blip but it's been an upward curve.'

Even perfect preparation can be undone by the fates. 'There's no doubt that you need luck in life,' says Strauss, 'and in professional sport probably even more so. I had a helluva lot of luck to get my debut when Michael Vaughan was injured and I don't know what would have happened if he'd been fit. Some come in and don't do well; some do. Even then luck plays a part. You can get an unplayable delivery or you can get a flat wicket. You can't prepare for it.'

He was undoubtedly helped by being selected for a winning team. 'We've benefited immensely from having a settled side. It is settled because we're winning and it becomes self-perpetuating. I've also benefited from knowing a lot of the guys [from being in the one-day squad] and the environment in the dressing room. Michael Vaughan is very inclusive as a captain and I don't feel there are any cliques or hierarchies.'

It has been a long season and 'I've found it really tough. The increase in intensity is very draining and it's been non-stop all summer. Last Sunday morning I was dead on my feet.' This week he will play in the Dunhill Links Championship off a handicap of 'a steady seven. Paul Collingwood is the real bandit. He plays off six but it's more like three.'

Then there will be a short break during which he will continue reading, 'Clive Woodward's autobiography, which is very interesting. I've met him a few times and he is a pretty inspirational bloke.' After that it will be back to the gym and then, after tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, which he describes as 'an important hurdle on the way', there will be 'the massive series against Australia'.

Given his recent run, it will not be a surprise if, having scored his first century against an Australian side in that schools match, he doubles up by scoring a century in his first Test match against Australia.