ANDREW Strauss responded to the pressure of playing for his Test future by delivering the biggest hundred of his international career and guiding England into a commanding lead in the deciding Test.
Recalled for this tour after missing the pre-Christmas trip to Sri Lanka, the Middlesex left-hander knew he was playing for his place in his final innings of the series against New Zealand having scored only 97 runs in his previous five outings.
G
iven a flat wicket, ideal batting conditions and a New Zealand attack without their two most consistent bowlers – seamer Kyle Mills and all-rounder Jacob Oram – the opportunity could not have been better presented for the 31-year-old. But he still had to take his chance and after nearly eight hours of battling negative thoughts and a persistent New Zealand attack, he ended the third day at McLean Park having safeguarded his immediate future with an unbeaten 173 to help England establish a 501-run lead by reaching 416 for five.
It was his highest Test score, eclipsing the 147 he scored against South Africa in Johannesburg three years ago, and, more importantly, his first century for 31 innings since scoring 116 against Pakistan at Headingley in 2006.
He was given enthusiastic support during a 187-run partnership with Ian Bell, who also ended a run of 23 innings without a hundred to score 110.
"That innings meant a lot to me," revealed Strauss, who hit 25 boundaries. "It's been a pretty long time since I last got a Test hundred, so there was a lot of emotion in it, a fair amount of relief, but more than anything a lot of joy.
"Having got nought in the first innings, you feel like you need to contribute to the side and there was a lot of relief to see that ball go away through the covers. It was one of those happy days you enjoy."
Resuming on 42 with England already 176 ahead on 91 for two, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen had the responsibility of batting towards a formidable total. But Pietersen was undone by a spinning delivery from Daniel Vettori to be caught at slip, which brought Bell to the crease.
While Strauss battled through to his 11th Test ton, Bell looked assured from the start and reached his half-century off only 84 balls – nearly overtaking his partner in the race to three figures. Strauss just beat him to the milestone with an extra-cover drive off Chris Martin just one over after New Zealand had taken the new ball.
"Andrew has worked as hard as anyone to get there and for all the hard times he has been through, it's great to have him back in the side and hopefully we can move forward and develop these hundreds as we have in the past," said Bell.
"It was also great to repay the selectors for the faith shown in us as a batting unit. The team have definitely rallied round him. A good thing about this team is that everyone is in it together."
Bell, who at 25 probably had more time to prove his case than Strauss, also had a point to prove having recorded his last century 13 Tests ago when he hit an unbeaten 109 against West Indies at Lord's last May.
He played with far more composure and hit 17 fours and two sixes in three hours at the crease but, just like most of his innings in this series, threw away his wicket by lofting Vettori to mid-off attempting to hit over the top.
Paul Collingwood missed out by giving a tame return catch to Vettori after a quickfire 22 and Tim Ambrose was fortunate to survive until the close after being dropped at slip on nine pushing at off-spinner Jeetan Patel.
But the day was about the rehabilitation of Strauss and Bell, who both made key contributions towards England's bid to claim their first overseas Test series victory in three years.
The full article contains 677 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
