Andrew Strauss' decline as Test batsman and captain: in numbers

The England captain has failed in recent years to match his heroics from the 2009 Ashes Series, when he finished the year with an average of 53.27.

A gradual decline in Strauss' batting is obvious when looking at the statistics.

His best year as captain undoubtedly came in 2009 when over the course of 24 innings Strauss racked up four centuries and four 50s at an average of 53.27, his highest figures since he first emerged in 2004 and finished with an average of 60.68 from 18 innings.

<noframes>Interactive chart: Strauss Test career by year</noframes>

That 2009 peak included the Ashes series win over Australia on home soil, for which Strauss was named English Player of the Series by Australia coach Tim Nielsen after scoring an aggregate of 474 runs.

The following year however saw his annual average drop to 34.57, with Strauss only making one century in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane despite reaching 50 on five occasions in 2010. He was also out for a duck three times.

2011 saw his decline in Test cricket continue after failing to make a 100, although England played half the matches they had the previous year, leaving his average for the year at 28.72.
Under pressure having not produced a century for over a year, Strauss then hit two in the Test Series against the West Indies in 2012 with scores of 122 and 141 in the 1st and 2nd Tests. His form though disappeared in the recent series against South Africa, top-scoring with 37 and opening the door for discussion on his future following the scandal with Kevin Pietersen ahead of the 3rd Test.
<noframes>Datatable: England players with most games as captain</noframes>
Despite failing to re-capture the heights of 2009, Strauss finishes his Test career with an average of 40.76 after 50 matches, which leaves him above the other two England captains to reach 50 Tests - Michael Atherton (54 matches, Ave. 40.58) and Michael Vaughan (51 matches, Ave. 36.02).