Testing Times – In Pursuit of the Ashes by Andrew Strauss [Rare books]

Book Summary

TESTING TIMES is the 2009 Ashes-winning captain’s personal account of a remarkable two-year period in world cricket. When Strauss went out for his second innings in the Napier Test of March 2008, everyone thought — including the man himself — he was one false stroke from the end of his England career. With extracts from his diary Strauss gives a unique insight into the torment which many Test cricketers go through. Taking the reader behind the scenes, Strauss describes his momentous experiences, such as Kevin Pietersen’s captaincy, the dramatic events of the Stanford Twenty20 series, the shocking terrorist attack in Mumbai, his feat of becoming the first England batsman to hit two centuries in a Test in Asia, his sudden appointment as England captain, and his team being dismissed for 51 in his first Test. Both revealing and forthright, TESTING TIMES captures all the excitement of the 2009 Ashes triumph in which his magnificent batting and calm leadership played such a role: the agonising last day at Cardiff, England’s first Ashes victory at Lord’s for 75 years, the horrors of Headingley, and finally the joy at the Oval of regaining the Ashes.

About the Author:

Sir Andrew John Strauss (born March2,1977, in Johannesburg; retired 2012) is a former England Test cricketer, captain, and director of cricket. An opening batsman renowned for his composure and consistency, Strauss scored a debut century at Lords and led England to Ashes victories at home in 2009 and away in 201011the first in Australia in 24 yearsearning England the No.1 ICC Test ranking . After his playing career, he steered Englands cricketing leadership before resigning in 2018, citing personal reasons after his wife Ruths illness and passing. Post-cricket, Strauss co-founded the performance psychology company Mindflick, advising elite teams and focusing on mindset and adaptability in high-pressure environments