Dedication pays off for Strauss

By Jamie Lillywhite

Strauss has reaped the rewards since his Test debut in 2004

Teachers past and present should welcome the success of Andrew Strauss because it proves what they have always tried to stress, that hard work can pay off.

The vast majority of school reports throughout the ages include some variant on the phrase "could do better if he/she showed more application".

That is a criticism that could certainly not be levelled at England's prolific opening batsman.

Ben Hutton, who has succeeded Strauss as Middlesex captain, has no doubts about his character.

"He's hugely competitive in everything he does," Hutton told BBC Sport.

"Since he was a young boy he has wanted to be the best, and as an opening batsman he leads by example."

I don't think anyone would have expected him to do as well as he has, it's purely down to his dedication Coach Jason Pooley Strauss enters record books

Hutton believes that 810 runs from his opening eight Tests has made Strauss more confident.

"He seems a lot more sure of himself," he observed.

"When he first came into the England team he was a bit quiet, not that he was uncertain, now he's come to terms with the success of the team."

Although Hutton agrees it is too early to talk of the England captaincy, he believes his former skipper would be capable of the task.

"He did really well at Middlesex thrust into the job after Angus Fraser's retirement," he said.

"He is a natural leader, not the sort to ram things down the throat, he gets on with it and would bring the best out of any team."

Another man who is well aware of the Strauss work ethic is Jason Pooley, who spent some time as a team-mate, then coached him from the age of 22.

"The reason he's done so well is that he's so professional in everything he does," Pooley explained to BBC Sport.

"In terms of fitness, keeping records of opposition bowlers, he hasn't left any stones unturned in his preparation.

"He's very easy to coach, quite happy to experiment, he works out what works for him and then gets on with it, if it doesn't he dumps it pretty quickly.

"I think he knows what he wants and doesn't get pushed into something he doesn't want to do."

Strauss has developed a full range of strokes, attacking and defensive

Pooley admits that he did not detect any obvious England potential when the pair first met.

"I don't think anyone, even from his academy report, would have expected him to do as well as he has, it's purely down to his dedication," he said.

"I played with Ramps (Mark Ramprakash) all the way through his age groups and if you were to compare the two and say who way going to be the better player you would say 'Ramps, he's got more flair.'

"With Straussy he knows what he can do and sticks to it.

"The reason he even got a foot on the ladder was hard work. Since he's been there he's grown in confidence and realised what he can do.

"He wasn't someone who could even hit the ball over the top three years ago, he wasn't confident about coming down and hitting the spinners.

"We went on a trip to India and he worked out what he could do against spin.

"It's his open mind to working hard and adapting quickly."

And Pooley has further bad news for bowlers around the world when he adds: "He just loves batting!"