Durban (S. Africa), Dec. 25 : Captain Andrew Strauss is hoping England will have a psychological edge from Centurion when their Test series against South Africa resumes on Boxing Day.

England clung on desperately to withstand everything their hosts could throw at them in the first Test - and despite losing five wickets for 13 runs on the final evening, they just managed to achieve a stalemate.

London, Nov 27 : England captain Andrew Strauss has no problem with his team-mates playing and benefiting from the Indian Premiere League next year.

Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood are due to return for next year’s event, while Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan, Jonathan Trott and James Anderson are being touted for 2010.

“I have no problems with people playing in the IPL. The guys who went last time felt they learned something from it and next year the World Twenty20 follows immediately afterwards,” Strauss said.

London, Nov 11 : A strong demand is being made to include Test and 50-over captain Andrew Strauss in the T20 team ahead of a crucial Friday match against the Proteas, after England produced a dismal batting performance just when this tour appeared to be going so well.

England was out for just 89 and lost by four wickets to South Africa A in their final practice match before Friday’s Twenty20 clash against the senior Proteas team.

London, Oct. 12 : England team will not fall into the same Ashes trap that snared Michael Vaughan''s men four years ago, claims current skipper Andrew Strauss.

Recalling the Ashes glory over Australia in 2005, which was celebrated long and hard for weeks, Strauss said that it was followed by a massive fall from grace in which Vaughan''s side lost 11 Tests out of 14 away from home and, rather than fulfil their dream of being the world''s No. 1 side they dropped down the ranks like a brick.

London, Oct 8 : England captain Andrew Strauss has revealed that the Royal Armed Forces had inspired him during England''s dramatic 2-1 Ashes victory against the mighty Australians.

He also revealed how he wore a ‘Help for Heroes’ wristband throughout the series, which gave him the strength to lead from the front.

Centurion, Oct 2 : England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and opted to bat against Australia in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy at the SuperSport here Friday.

Teams:

Australia: Shane Watson, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Ricky Ponting (captain), Mike Hussey, Cameron White, Callum Ferguson, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle.

England: Andrew Strauss (captain), Joe Denly, Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Steve Davies (wicketkeeper), Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan, James Anderson, Grahan Onions.(IANS)

Johannesburg, Sep. 28 : England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has hailed his big-hitters as the team entered the Champions Trophy semi-finals.

After 12 sixes were belted in the 22-run defeat of South Africa, Strauss said: "That''s the best I have ever seen England bat."

After losing six of seven one- dayers against Australia, England has now beaten the Aussies, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the space of a week.

Johannesburg, Sep 24: England captain Andrew Strauss has said the Champions Trophy would be the last chance for many players to exhibit their competence. He warned that certain players can expect marching orders if they fail to perform.

England''s Champions Trophy challenge starts against Sri Lanka on Friday.

“The tour parties for South Africa will be announced after this event. So, obviously the performances of the Australia series and this Champions Trophy will be on the selectors'' minds,” The Telegraph quoted Strauss, as saying.

England team has set target of 221 runs for Australia in the fourth ODI match of the NatWest ODI series at the Lords on Saturday. England team returned to pavilion for 220 runs on the board in 46.3 overs.

English skipper A Strauss won the toss and elected to bat first in a must win match. Most of the England batsmen got good start but they failed to convert it into big innings. Strauss was top scorer for England with 63 runs.

Melbourne, Sep 5 : England skipper Andrew Strauss has warned that banishing 50-over cricket from the country’s domestic schedule could have dire consequences for the team’s World Cup campaigns.

The England and Wales cricket board decided to axe 50-over cricket for a shortened 40-over format from next season.

Strauss said domestic cricket should mirror internationals, and believes one-dayers will survive in the face of mounting pressure from Twenty20s.

London, Aug. 19 : England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has refuted suggestions and allegations of him having a discord with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff because of the latter''s omission from the fourth Ashes Test at Leeds, saying both players understood each other well, and would be going into the fifth and final Ashes Test with all guns firing.

Leeds (UK), Aug. 10 : Fans of English cricket taunted and booed captain Andrew Strauss as the host''s went down to the Australians by an innings and 80 runs in the fourth Ashes Test inside three days on Sunday.

A section of the crowd sang a tribute to former skipper Michael Vaughan as Strauss'' side was hammered into submission. Strauss was also booed by a small pocket of fans.

Leeds (UK), Aug. 10 : Following Australia’s crushing innings and 80-run victory over England in the fourth Ashes Test, which saw the two sides level at 1-1, England cricket captain Andrew Strauss called for calm reflection and said there was no need for taking desperate measures.

Yorkshire (UK), Aug. 6 : England captain Andrew Strauss says that he is realistic about all-rounder Andrew Flintoff''s chances of playing in the fourth Ashes Test starting at the Headingly cricket ground here from tomorrow.

"It is the fourth Test of an Ashes series, we are close to the finishing line and although we are all desperate for him to play we need to be realistic enough to realise if he''s not fit, he shouldn''t play," The Independent quoted Strauss, as saying.

Warwickshire (UK), Aug. 4 : England cricket captain Andrew Strauss remains "very confident" that all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be fit to play in Friday''s fourth Ashes Test, despite the fast bowler struggling through Monday's stalemate at Edgbaston.

Flintoff bowled only 11 overs on the final day as Australia - in trouble at 161 for four before lunch - batted on and on to reach 375 for five before the two teams shook hands on a draw, reports The Independent.

Dubai, July 21 : England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has broken back into top 20 batsman while Flintoff has also moved up the bowling rankings. Australia''s Michael Clarke has also been rewarded, but "Mr. Fixit" Michael Hussey slips out of top 20.

Australian team has been looking in great trouble as they need 71 runs more to avoid follow-on with just two wickets in the hands on the close of the second day of the second test match of the Ashes series against England at the Lords on Friday.

England restricted Australian batsmen to 156/8 after they returned to pavilion for 425 runs on the board in the morning session.

M Hussey was top scorer for the Australian team who scored 51 runs, while S Katich contributed 48 runs with the bat.

England skipper Andrew Strauss scored an unbeaten ton as England finished the first day of the second test match of the Ashes series against Australia at 364 runs with loss of six wickets at the Lords on Thursday.

England elected to field first after winning the toss and Strauss (161 not out) and A Cook (95) scored a partnership of 196 runs for the first wicket before Cook retuned to pavilion.

London, July 1 : England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has said that he has no problem with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff boozing, as long as he knows that he is required to be fit to fire at his opponents on the cricket field.

Strauss was speaking after Flintoff, 31, was disciplined for going on a drinking session in Belgium and missing a team bonding visit to the World War I trenches in Flanders.

The Sun quoted Strauss as saying: "He is very aware he stuffed up, he took it on the chin and apologised."

London, May 9 : England cricket captain Andrew Strauss hailed his new boys as the team stormed to a 10-wicket win over the West indies at Lord's yesterday.

Captain Strauss particularly praised Ravi Bopara, Graeme Swann and Graham Onions for their respective performances in the match, saying they were inspired.