Andrew Strauss

Factfile

Born

1977

County Team

Middlesex

1st Class Debut

1998

1st Class Batting Average

42,68

Test Debut

2004

Test Batting Average

43.96

England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has enjoyed playing golf for around 20 years and the 32-year-old left-hander has a handicap of five. International duties have taken him all over the world yet his favourite courses can be found here in the British Isles.

“I would have to include Sunningdale among my top three. Yes, I know that is right here in England but it’s a course I play often and I love it.

“I particularly enjoy links golf. It feels more natural somehow. That’s why Kingsbarns, just down the coast near the Old Course at St Andrews, and Old Head, in southern Ireland, are on my list. With links golf, the wind can make you feel pretty inadequate on occasions but that just adds to the overall feeling of a natural challenge.

Strauss added: “I don’t have much time for golf on my holidays because I have a young family and they are my focus when I get away from cricket. That said, I would love to organise a golfing holiday around Ireland. There are so many fantastic courses there that it would be incredible.”

The England captain has twice competed with the pros in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

“We play at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, which is great fun,” he says. “My two professional partners have been Anthony Wall and Ricardo Gonzalez. But in one tournament I played in a four-ball with Henrik Stenson and he was certainly the most impressive golfer I’ve played with. He hits the ball unbelievably well.”

Which is what Strauss does much of the time when he is batting for England. This year he has been granted a benefit by his county and golf is sure to be on the events calendar.