England Test captain Andrew Strauss in a surprise announcement on Wednesday afternoon retired from all forms of professional cricket with immediate effect. He has been replaced as Test captain by England’s one-day international skipper Alastair Cook.

“It’s a very tough decision. For me the driver to it all quite frankly was my form with the bat. In truth I haven’t battled well enough for a long period of time now. I think for a captain to perform his role properly, it’s important you’re not a passenger in the side, but also that people aren’t speculating as to whether you should be in the side or not. I think that would have been too big a distraction to the side going forward,” the 35-year-old cricketer said in London on Wednesday.
Strauss, who made his England debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2003, is retiring after 14 years in the professional game.
He said he knew that he would not be able to improve his batting performance, which has not been good for the past year. “I have run my race,” he said, adding that this was “a hugely sad moment in many ways.”
Strauss, who played in 100 Tests for England, said his decision was not made overnight. “I have been thinking about this for the last six or 12 months, I suppose and certainly in the last few weeks it has become more and more apparent that this is the right time,” said Strauss, who described England winning the Ashes in Australia was the highlight of his career.
“I am extremely proud of everything I have achieved as a cricketer, and I have found myself very fortunate to play in an era when some of English cricket's greatest moments have occurred. I have loved every minute of it,” said Strauss, who led his team to 24 wins out of 50 Tests he captained.
Strauss insisted that the controversy involving fellow cricketer Kevin Pietersen had no bearing on his decision to retire from cricket. Pietersen recently apologised for sending text messages to members of the South African team before he was left out of the third Test at Lord’s this month.
“No, not in any way, I’ve been speaking about it for a while. I first spoke to Andy (Flower, the England coach) about it prior to the Kevin Pietersen incident rearing its head, it just hasn’t been a consideration at all,” he said.
“I first spoke to Andy about this a few weeks ago and said I’m considering it and would talk to him at end of the (South Africa) series, by the time I spoke to him again my mind was made up and I think he knew that,” he explained.
Praising the Johannes-burg-born Strauss, England and Wales Cricket Board chief David Collier said he “has been a highly successful captain and opening batsman for Middlesex and England, who will be remembered for leading the side to two Ashes victories and to the top of the Test rankings.”
“He has shown tremendous integrity, dedication and commitment both on and off the field and under his leadership the side has grown immeasurably and reached new levels of professionalism,” Collier added.
New England skipper Cook also praised Strauss. “He has been a fantastic captain, has led from the front for three-and- a-half years and is a true ambassador for the game. I know this can’t have been an easy decision for him and everyone in the dressing room will be sad to see him go,” he said.