Andrew Strauss resigned as England’s Test captain and announced his retirement from professional cricket with immediate effect on Wednesday in the latest twist to the Kevin Pietersen saga that has rocked the side.
“After much thought over the last few weeks, I have decided to step down as England Test captain and announce my retirement from all forms of cricket,” Strauss said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement issued ahead of a news conference at Lord’s.
Alastair Cook, already England’s one-day captain and Strauss’s opening partner in the five-day game, was announced as the new skipper of the Test team.
Cook’s first Test as captain will be the first of a four-match series in India in November.