Strauss’s scrutiny as batsman justified, says http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362 - Cricket News Update
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964 as batsman and pressure of scoring runs on the left-hander is understandable.
Speaking to the media reporters on Sunday, the 44-year-old former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 skipper said that it is inevitable that a batsman from the top six failing to score enough runs will come under scrutiny. However, he did not agree with the England spinner,
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501 that the pressure on the Middlesex star is some kind of “witch-hunt”.
"I think the description of it being a witch-hunt is inaccurate," Flower said in an interview with a leading UK weekly. "I don't think anyone is wanting to burn Strauss at the stake. But I think people are questioning him for not scoring heavy enough
runs, and I can understand that,” he added further.
Strauss, the 35-year-old opening batsman from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the
opening Test of the 2010-11 Ashes series in November 2010. In the last calendar year, the left hander could amass just 316 runs at an average of just 28.73. The 11 Test innings played last season, saw the English skipper scoring only
two half centuries.
His personal struggles with the bad, coupled with England’s dismal performance against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in away Test series, only made things worse for the left-hander, as the pundits and former English players started questioning
Strauss’ position in the team.
Though agreeing with pundits and fans on Strauss’ extended lean patch with the bat, the Zimbabwean made it clear that there was no threat to his position in the team, as opener or as team captain.
"To say that he was close to resigning, retiring or being dropped is inaccurate, because he wasn't close to being left out, he isn't close to retiring or resigning.
"In our changing room that wasn't even close to discussion. But I did talk to him about this issue in private."
The under fire Middlesex star must be looking forward to the upcoming home Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, starting from May 17, to regain form.
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