Sports Desk: Quite used to face the fearsome
fast bowlers first-up with dead bat, former English skipper was not much
different on Wednesday, as the classical left-handed batsman refrained
from taking sides on his debut as a TV commentator on Wednesday.
A veteran of 100 Test matches, Strauss became a rookie all over
again, as he took his seat beside the seasoned David Lloyd, better known
as ‘Bumble.’
Unlike former Test cricketers whose broadcasting style could not be
further removed from the way they played the game- Geoffrey Boycott
being a classic case in point- Strauss stuck to his guns, being the
gentleman he is known to be.
Behind the microphone, Strauss enjoyed himself in a safe, understated way.
It’s not very long since Alastair Cook and Co were his team-mates,
but Strauss managed not to refer to them by first names and nicknames,
neither did he quite lambast them for poor decision-making.
When Matt Prior got out to what in the circumstances - 180 for five
- was a poor shot, Strauss preferred to credit Siddle's bowling.
Painstaking in his avoidance of anything that may offend, the
closest Strauss came to offering criticism was Ian Bell stumbling into
'the corridor of uncertainty' was the closest he came.
Just like Andy Flower with opening partnerships, Strauss's new
paymasters must decide who he works with best. His main shifts on
Wednesday were with Bumble and Michael Holding, which in a way did him
no favours.
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