Strauss delighted with OBE

Last Updated: June 11, 2011 11:44am

Honours: Strauss (r), Cook (l) and Flower (c)

England captain Andrew Strauss spoke of his pride at receiving an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, whilst crediting the award to his team.

Following England's historic and emphatic Ashes win in Australia last winter, coach Andy Flower and man of the series Alastair Cook have also been honoured.

Strauss already holds an MBE for his part in the 2005 Ashes-winning side, and he now adds an OBE to that award, as does Flower, while Cook has been given an MBE.

Strauss spoke of his pride, personally and on behalf of his two colleagues and the rest of his team-mates and coaching staff.

"It is a great honour to receive this accolade," he said. "It's one of the better items of post you get through the letterbox - certainly better than a gas bill.

"It is wonderful to receive OBEs and MBEs. We have achieved something but are nowhere near the end of the road yet, and will continue to strive to improve."
Andrew Strauss Quotes of the week

"They do ask you not to tell people about it, keep it under your hat. I did tell my wife, but not anyone else. But it is always fantastic when it is announced, and then to go and receive it.

"I'm very proud to receive it and, more than anything, very proud of how the team performed out there in Australia. Our guys really stood up under the pressure."

Strauss sees more good times ahead and insists receiving his awards is not the end of the achievements he wants to gain with this England team.

"All of us who were involved in it did feel part of something special. We hope England will go on and do it again a number of times," he added.

"But to win by an innings in three of five games it will take something really extraordinary in the rest of my career to eclipse that. It is fantastic to have been part of the management, and captaining the side.

"But the most satisfying thing is the players we had and how they rose to the challenges and played so well, as they can. When you are fortunate enough to be in this position, you want to make the absolute most of every opportunity.

"It is wonderful to receive OBEs and MBEs. We have achieved something but are nowhere near the end of the road yet, and will continue to strive to improve."

Cook responded to doubts about his place in the team with a match-saving, unbeaten double-hundred in the second innings of the first Test at Brisbane - and has scarcely looked back since.

Flower, a native of South Africa who played for Zimbabwe throughout an oustanding international career as a batsman and wicketkeeper, voiced his pleasure too at receiving an OBE.

"It is a lovely surprise to receive this honour," said the 43-year-old. "My family and I feel very thankful to have been welcomed into this country since moving here in 2003 - and I feel a great privilege and responsibility to be involved in a leadership role in English sport."

 

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