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Strauss recall would be music to my ears

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Morgan in the driving seat - Allsy tells us why he's betting on the fact that Andrew Strauss isn't done just yet when it comes to Test cricket

Cricket fans will be hoping that the third and final Test in Sri Lanka is not a complete washout. Back in England Andrew Strauss is hoping that his England career has not been completely washed away too.

At 30-years-old the South African born batsman should be approaching his prime. An integral part of Michael Vaughan's Ashes winning side in 2005 he was awarded and MBE and named Wisden Cricketer of the Year but two years on, despite a Test average of 40.79, he was dropped from the England tour after an extended run of poor form.

It's ironic that his change in fortunes occurred at a time when Strauss seemed as sure of his England place as Vaughan, Pietersen or Flintoff. With injuries to the Captain and Flintoff responsibility was handed over to Strauss. For many it was an opportunity for the Middlesex man to test his leadership skills at the highest level, for others it was a dress-rehearsal - a chance to stake a captaincy claim if Vaughan didn't regain fitness.

Things went badly from the off as Sri Lanka handed out a humiliating 5-0 defeat in the One-Day series while his style of captaincy was not as sure-footed as many had hoped but he made runs and kept the armband for the Test series against Pakistan winning 3-0.

Flintoff took the armband for the Ashes Tour in Australia. England fans know that there was plenty of blame to go around in a series so poorly contested that I half-suspected that Steve McClaren was made Chairman of Selectors.

Strauss endured his worst run of form ever, making two fifties in 20 tour innings. He was an obvious choice to be dropped when the inevitable recriminations began.
Strauss was recalled but continued to struggle (along with other England top-order batsmen) until he was dropped from the squad to tour Sri Lanka this December.

No one can accuse Strauss of sitting at home and sulking about his misfortune. He's agreed a short-term contract with Northern Districts in New Zealand in the hope of being recalled for England's forthcoming New Zealand tour.

Strauss knows that, like Smith, Hick and Ramprakash before him, the way back into the England fold comes via sheer weight of runs. Graeme Hick struck a hundred every three innings when he played 1st-class cricket in New Zealand and if Strauss can reach somewhere close to that form (in what is a very competitive league) he's likely to catch the selectors' eye.

If you believe, like I do, that form is temporary but class is permanent then Andrew Strauss will be back soon enough but it will require more than a pile of runs - Strauss will need a loss of form from another England batsmen.

A top-order of Vaughan, Cook, Bell, Pietersen and Collingwood looks pretty set at Test level but Strauss could be helped by the vulnerability of Bopara at six. Cook deserves to extend his run in the side but if England deems their middle order is too short then Strauss could be recalled with Collinwood's calming influence used at six.

If England square the series in Sri Lanka wholesale personnel changes will be unlikely. Sri Lanka [6.2] are clear favourites to win the final Test but England [13.5] showed a measure of impressive control when securing the draw in the 2nd Test.

Considering the weather problems, and the fact that Sri Lanka do not need a victory to secure the series, the draw [1.29] looks most likely.

England has been on the back foot during this tour but they've got off to a good start reducing Sri Lanka to 147-4 before bad light stopped play on the 1st day.

Meanwhile Strauss will pack for New Zealand hoping to accumulate enough runs to force his way back. I think it will be a case of 'if' not 'when' for Strauss but tell me how you think England's top six should line up?

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