Sport - Cricket

Strauss joins elite company

Chennai: Andrew Strauss celebrated an exceptional feat with typical equanimity after working Zaheer Khan for a single here on Sunday afternoon.

His teammates, the Indian cricketers and the crowd applauded. The efficient run-maker had displayed great temperament under blazing sun.

The left-handed opener is only the seventh batsman to achieve the feat against India in Tests.

He joins a list of legendary, great and accomplished batsmen. Australia’s Don Bradman was the first to record the double against India. He made 132 and 127 not out at Melbourne in 1948.

Then, the West Indies’ Everton Weekes scored 162 and 101 in the Calcutta Test of 1948. After a lengthy gap, Sri Lanka’s Duleep Mendis notched up hundreds (105 in each innings) in the one-off Test in Madras in 1982. The match concluded in a thrilling draw.

England’s Graham Gooch came up with the big one — 333 and 123 — at Lord’s in 1990.

Now, Strauss has become only the second Englishman to record a double against India in Tests. South Africa’s Gary Kristen — India’s present coach — produced innings of 102 and 133 at Kolkata in 1996.

Like Kirsten, Strauss has his roots in South Africa; both are left-handed batsmen as well.

In Colombo, 1997, Aravinda de Silva made 146 and 120 at the expense of the Indian attack.

Now, after 11 years, Strauss has constructed a double against India. Will his efforts of 123 and 108 prove match-winning ones for England? — Special Correspondent

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