Andrew Strauss steps aside to help in wife's cancer fight

Andrew Strauss will step aside from his duties as England and Wales Cricket Board director this summer while his wife undergoes cancer treatment.
England's director of cricket Andrew Strauss: Taking time out.England's director of cricket Andrew Strauss: Taking time out.
England's director of cricket Andrew Strauss: Taking time out.

The temporary arrangement will see Andy Flower take on Strauss’s tasks, and others will lend a hand to fill Flower’s role as England Lions head coach.

Strauss confirmed the contingency at Lord’s yesterday, when he also announced six scouts – all former England players, including 2005 Ashes winner Marcus Trescothick – will report to new national selector Ed Smith.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Strauss said: “My wife was diagnosed with cancer in December.

“We are very lucky she has been very well up to now – although she is starting a new treatment on Friday, which is going to be more challenging for her. As such I am going to be stepping back from my day-to-day duties while that treatment is going on.”

The former England captain added: “On a day-to-day basis, Andy Flower is going to be stepping in for me over the course of the summer.

“We all know about his qualities and his experience of both England and English cricket, and he will fill in my shoes very adequately.

“I look forward to returning and grabbing the reins again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But at this period of time my focus has to be on supporting Ruth and my family at a challenging time for us.”

As England prepare for the start of their Test summer against Pakistan at Lord’s on Thursday, it was revealed Trescothick, Glen Chapple, Steve Rhodes, Richard Dawson, Chris Read and James Taylor will act as Smith’s scouts.

Strauss said: “They will be compiling reports on players of interest to us – a long list of players of interest.

“They won’t compile reports on their own players, if they are involved in a county.

“(It will mean) many eyes, more time, more sight of players, more often, getting different perspectives to make judgments and assessments on these players to give us a better body of information.”