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Driving Ambition: My Autobiography
Andrew Strauss, one of the most successful and respected England cricket captains of the modern era, announced his retirement from professional cricket at the end of 2012. In DRIVING AMBITION he gives a candid account of the highs and lows of his remarkable career for Middlesex and England. An outstanding opening batsman and natural leader, Andrew Strauss captained his country in 50 of his 100 Tests. During his time in charge, England emerged from a turbulent and controversial period to become the world's top team.
This is an honest and entertaining story of a quiet, modest but fiercely ambitious man who became a magnificent man-manager, leading England to victory in the 2009 Ashes series and again in Australia the following year. Strauss is a fine raconteur and this revealing autobiography will appeal to all those who love cricket.
This is an honest and entertaining story of a quiet, modest but fiercely ambitious man who became a magnificent man-manager, leading England to victory in the 2009 Ashes series and again in Australia the following year. Strauss is a fine raconteur and this revealing autobiography will appeal to all those who love cricket.
- GenresAutobiographyBiography
370 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2013
6 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Strauss
9 booksNote: This Andrew Strauss was an English cricket player.
Andrew Strauss was born in 1977 and spent his early years in South Africa, Australia and England. He learned his game at Radley College and Durham University, and made his first-class debut for Middlesex in 1998 before becoming captain in 2003.
Strauss wrote his name into the record books when he became only the fourth batsman to score a century at Lord's on his Test debut, in 2004. He was awarded the MBE in 2005. In 2009 Strauss was named England captain and was subsequently named Man of the Series in the Ashes victory. He was awarded the OBE in 2011.
* Source: About the Author section for Driving Ambition - My Autobiography
Andrew Strauss was born in 1977 and spent his early years in South Africa, Australia and England. He learned his game at Radley College and Durham University, and made his first-class debut for Middlesex in 1998 before becoming captain in 2003.
Strauss wrote his name into the record books when he became only the fourth batsman to score a century at Lord's on his Test debut, in 2004. He was awarded the MBE in 2005. In 2009 Strauss was named England captain and was subsequently named Man of the Series in the Ashes victory. He was awarded the OBE in 2011.
* Source: About the Author section for Driving Ambition - My Autobiography
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 17, 2014
You'd hope light would be shed on the backroom staff and possibly private matters of the bygone era but they've remained as mysterious and untouched as they ever were. Strauss keeps his friends close and enemies closer in this book; very much an unbiased, likeable book, much like the author.
January 19, 2014
autobiography of the former English captain easy reading but has feeling of the run of the mill cricket book which nothing really stands out
August 27, 2024
I still remember my introduction to Andrew Strauss, aka Straussy, via an old Panasonic TV screen on PTV Home. It was during the Pakistani Men's Cricket team's tour of England, and they were televising the series. I thought Pakistan was unbeatable and the World No. 1 ranked team , illusions that tend to hold when you have only one channel and the only luxury is to watch the Pakistani Men's Team series.
Inzamam was the captain, and Straussy was leading England. They came out for the toss with some high school boys as their mascots. I debated with my brother, wondering how Inzamam could have a white boy as his son. I was 100% confirmed that the guy accompanying Strauss was his son! That was my first impression of Andrew Strauss, which I still remember intact.
The series I'm talking about was the Pakistan tour of England (2006). I didn't watch the Test series, as an 8-year-old villager, I lacked the patience to sit through it. I was baffled by the disrespect of Ball Tampering shown to our team. I then watched the ODI games, the series ended in a draw (2-2). Mr. Strauss, due to that series, PTV extended the televised dates of my favorite drama at that time, 'Barso Baad', which was ironically set in England. This sparked more interest in the game. I loved all the grounds where matches were played, and now I greatly admire that time.
That was my brief introduction to Strauss. My next stint with Strauss was in the Summer of 2010, when Pakistan toured England, and the fiasco of Spot Fixing belted the news. It was such chaos that I thought we were bundled out of cricket. The heartbreak of the 2010 Semi Final lost against Australia in Windies was still aching, and then came another deep trauma. I literally started hating England. Though, as the case unfolded, our team politics and players were to blame. Alas, Pakistan lost the enigmatic left-hander, Salman Butt, forever.
Afterwards, I watched Strauss's career, not so closely but from afar. Their debacle campaign of the 2011 World Cup in India, where they were thrown out and even lost to Ireland, was a distasteful view as a cricket fan. They played superbly against the mighty hosts, Indians, in their opening match.
Turning point was England rose to No. 1 spot in Test rankings, proving Mr. Strauss's leadership qualities. He lost his wife, Ruth, to a rare form of lung cancer, non-small cell carcinoma, after a long and courageous battle, which was the sole reason I went through his biography.
I read it mostly on Rickshaws while traveling, so it added another layer of realism to his story. As I was traveling from Akbar Chowk to Pathak, Strauss did the same but took longer jumps from South Africa to Australia and then to England. That speaks volumes about his mindset as a cricketer, incorporating different things from his culture and environment. I thoroughly enjoyed his journey through different phases of life. Unlike many, he chose a language of affection and dedication, sharing only his focal point of view about certain patches of his cricketing journey, minus any specific agenda against any player or creed. He shared his vision and enacted a future he wanted to embark on with the same dedication, which he ultimately did, serving cricket and his community. He is giving back to England what England has given back to him - a wonderful career, a lovely family, and a generous wife, whom he lost some years ago.
Andrew Strauss is a classic example of doing what you know best and keeping doing it until you master it. It took me almost six months to read this book completely; it was not due to the writing style or lack of interest. I binged myself to read it only when I was traveling on a Rickshaw, as these kinds of stories motivate me to look towards positivity. I do recommend you read this whenever you get time.
3/5 for rating
Inzamam was the captain, and Straussy was leading England. They came out for the toss with some high school boys as their mascots. I debated with my brother, wondering how Inzamam could have a white boy as his son. I was 100% confirmed that the guy accompanying Strauss was his son! That was my first impression of Andrew Strauss, which I still remember intact.
The series I'm talking about was the Pakistan tour of England (2006). I didn't watch the Test series, as an 8-year-old villager, I lacked the patience to sit through it. I was baffled by the disrespect of Ball Tampering shown to our team. I then watched the ODI games, the series ended in a draw (2-2). Mr. Strauss, due to that series, PTV extended the televised dates of my favorite drama at that time, 'Barso Baad', which was ironically set in England. This sparked more interest in the game. I loved all the grounds where matches were played, and now I greatly admire that time.
That was my brief introduction to Strauss. My next stint with Strauss was in the Summer of 2010, when Pakistan toured England, and the fiasco of Spot Fixing belted the news. It was such chaos that I thought we were bundled out of cricket. The heartbreak of the 2010 Semi Final lost against Australia in Windies was still aching, and then came another deep trauma. I literally started hating England. Though, as the case unfolded, our team politics and players were to blame. Alas, Pakistan lost the enigmatic left-hander, Salman Butt, forever.
Afterwards, I watched Strauss's career, not so closely but from afar. Their debacle campaign of the 2011 World Cup in India, where they were thrown out and even lost to Ireland, was a distasteful view as a cricket fan. They played superbly against the mighty hosts, Indians, in their opening match.
Turning point was England rose to No. 1 spot in Test rankings, proving Mr. Strauss's leadership qualities. He lost his wife, Ruth, to a rare form of lung cancer, non-small cell carcinoma, after a long and courageous battle, which was the sole reason I went through his biography.
I read it mostly on Rickshaws while traveling, so it added another layer of realism to his story. As I was traveling from Akbar Chowk to Pathak, Strauss did the same but took longer jumps from South Africa to Australia and then to England. That speaks volumes about his mindset as a cricketer, incorporating different things from his culture and environment. I thoroughly enjoyed his journey through different phases of life. Unlike many, he chose a language of affection and dedication, sharing only his focal point of view about certain patches of his cricketing journey, minus any specific agenda against any player or creed. He shared his vision and enacted a future he wanted to embark on with the same dedication, which he ultimately did, serving cricket and his community. He is giving back to England what England has given back to him - a wonderful career, a lovely family, and a generous wife, whom he lost some years ago.
Andrew Strauss is a classic example of doing what you know best and keeping doing it until you master it. It took me almost six months to read this book completely; it was not due to the writing style or lack of interest. I binged myself to read it only when I was traveling on a Rickshaw, as these kinds of stories motivate me to look towards positivity. I do recommend you read this whenever you get time.
3/5 for rating
November 4, 2019
“You must have confused me with myself” – Michael Palmer in The Promises of Glass
Writing an autobiography must be an enervating task, as any task which involves holding a mirror to one’s conscience undoubtedly is. However in “Driving Ambition”, as Andrew Strauss successfully demonstrates, an act of voluntarily revealing an original face clothed in a perennial public mask need not always be an exercise in either anguish or arrogance. The autobiography of England’s former Ashes winning captain and opening batsman is a grand prose of purpose, poise and professionalism. Shunning egotistical self-approbation (a fact which Shoaib Akthar would do well to appreciate if ever he plans to bring out a sequel to his autobiography), and abhorring superciliousness (an unfortunate and unexpected highlight of the much vaunted autobiography of Sachin Tendulkar), Strauss adopts a matter-of-fact narrative that is at times absorbing and at others, fascinating. Without a shadow of doubt this is one of the more impressive books that elucidate the professional and personal travails and triumphs forming the cornerstone of a cricketer’s life, to have been released in recent times.
The one undeniable beauty of the book lies in its subdued character. In a wonderful display of crafty dexterity, Strauss relays the context but artfully reigns in the content. The foundations of necessity underpin every chapter in the book. The contours are exquisitely laid out and the edifice honed to perfection. In more ways than one, Andrew Strauss’s work is just an extension of his arm that held a trusted Gray Nicolls blade with distinction over the course of exactly a hundred Test Matches. Firmness overshadows Flamboyance; Grit obfuscates Genius; and Purpose overwhelms Pomposity. Driving Ambition covers a whole gamut of topics as it lays out the illustrious life of its protagonist. Dynamics of team building joust with administrative harangues; the burdens of captaincy tussle with inexplicable loss of form; and internecine squabbles contrast with incredible player unity.
Strauss, instead of opting to have himself as the centre piece and theme of his book (even acknowledging the fact that it is an autobiography), elects to present important situations that revolved around key individuals, of which he himself comprised an integral and indivisible component. Ashes victories are attributed to a combination of astute coaching and acclaimed teamwork, while defeats are ascribed to poor performance and the force exhibited by a deserving opposition. There are no lamentable references to blame games or finger pointing. A refreshing aspect of this book is the complete absence of much abused clichés such as ‘the ball looking bigger than a football.’ The language is simple; the style is minimalist and the objective honest. The Chapters describing the wresting of the hallowed Ashes urn from the seemingly invincible Australians are a delight to read. The Teutonic exploits of a marauding Andrew Flintoff in what has now been universally acknowledged as one of the greatest Test Match series to have ever taken place, brings back memories of hope, audacity an conviction.
Straus does not shy away from taking uneasy topics head on, just as he never shied away from taking on the likes of Brett Lee and Shane Warne (although the latter won their duels more times than Strauss would have been comfortable with). Shane Warne trying to mentally unsettle Strauss by calling him “Daryll” (a snide reference to the unfortunate and clueless but otherwise brilliant Daryll Cullinan) evokes a fair degree of humour. The remarkably unsavoury saga involving the rambunctious Kevin Pietersen is dealt with in an unbiased and clinical manner, according the benefit of doubt to all the parties involved before finally weighing down the unfortunate and untimely consequences. The loss of a batsman of KP’s ability while a body blow for England, was however an inevitability and in the long run, perhaps even a blessing instead of a curse. But in no point of time does Strauss belittle the cricketing talent or game changing ability of one of the most destructive batsmen ever to have graced a cricketing arena. The Mumbai terrorist attacks that rocked the iconic Taj Hotel that resulted in an abrupt cancellation of an ongoing India-England series find poignant elucidation. The brave and commendable resumption of the series and Sachin Tendulkar’s superhuman performance to lead India to a sentimental victory makes for some gripping reading.
Even when elaborating about his own lack of form which resulted in him being excluded from the England Test team before a redeeming knock at Napier sealed his place once again in the squad, there is no scrambling for excuses. Similarly the deplorable bleeper on public television involving the ‘c’ word (used to describe Kevin Pietersen) is apologized for and there is also a frank admission of the strain on an already fragile relationship being further exacerbated. Strauss proves that he has the ability to be a capable administrator when he dwells at length on the new rules formulated by the ICC bestowing unbridled powers on the “Big Three” of cricket, Australia; England and India thereby facilitating a further accentuation of their collective financial muscles and administrative clout, much to the detriment of the other cricketing nations. His concerns regarding the untrammeled mushrooming of Twenty20 cricket at the dangerous expense of Test Match cricket also indicate a futuristic outlook, an outlook that warns of a real threat to the most sacred and indispensable version of the game. He also describes the mental pressure that wreaks havoc on the mind of a touring player ultimately triggering the deadly onset of depression. The examples of Marcus Trescothick and Michael Yardy being classic cases.
Overall, Driving Ambition is a pleasure to read and as the finishing pages of the book lead one to believe Strauss is just not yet done with his writing career. In the interests of millions of both English fans and neutrals of the game alike, let us hope that his new found passion not only equals but exceeds the length that illuminated a magnificent cricketing career.
Driving Ambition – Timed to Perfection!
Writing an autobiography must be an enervating task, as any task which involves holding a mirror to one’s conscience undoubtedly is. However in “Driving Ambition”, as Andrew Strauss successfully demonstrates, an act of voluntarily revealing an original face clothed in a perennial public mask need not always be an exercise in either anguish or arrogance. The autobiography of England’s former Ashes winning captain and opening batsman is a grand prose of purpose, poise and professionalism. Shunning egotistical self-approbation (a fact which Shoaib Akthar would do well to appreciate if ever he plans to bring out a sequel to his autobiography), and abhorring superciliousness (an unfortunate and unexpected highlight of the much vaunted autobiography of Sachin Tendulkar), Strauss adopts a matter-of-fact narrative that is at times absorbing and at others, fascinating. Without a shadow of doubt this is one of the more impressive books that elucidate the professional and personal travails and triumphs forming the cornerstone of a cricketer’s life, to have been released in recent times.
The one undeniable beauty of the book lies in its subdued character. In a wonderful display of crafty dexterity, Strauss relays the context but artfully reigns in the content. The foundations of necessity underpin every chapter in the book. The contours are exquisitely laid out and the edifice honed to perfection. In more ways than one, Andrew Strauss’s work is just an extension of his arm that held a trusted Gray Nicolls blade with distinction over the course of exactly a hundred Test Matches. Firmness overshadows Flamboyance; Grit obfuscates Genius; and Purpose overwhelms Pomposity. Driving Ambition covers a whole gamut of topics as it lays out the illustrious life of its protagonist. Dynamics of team building joust with administrative harangues; the burdens of captaincy tussle with inexplicable loss of form; and internecine squabbles contrast with incredible player unity.
Strauss, instead of opting to have himself as the centre piece and theme of his book (even acknowledging the fact that it is an autobiography), elects to present important situations that revolved around key individuals, of which he himself comprised an integral and indivisible component. Ashes victories are attributed to a combination of astute coaching and acclaimed teamwork, while defeats are ascribed to poor performance and the force exhibited by a deserving opposition. There are no lamentable references to blame games or finger pointing. A refreshing aspect of this book is the complete absence of much abused clichés such as ‘the ball looking bigger than a football.’ The language is simple; the style is minimalist and the objective honest. The Chapters describing the wresting of the hallowed Ashes urn from the seemingly invincible Australians are a delight to read. The Teutonic exploits of a marauding Andrew Flintoff in what has now been universally acknowledged as one of the greatest Test Match series to have ever taken place, brings back memories of hope, audacity an conviction.
Straus does not shy away from taking uneasy topics head on, just as he never shied away from taking on the likes of Brett Lee and Shane Warne (although the latter won their duels more times than Strauss would have been comfortable with). Shane Warne trying to mentally unsettle Strauss by calling him “Daryll” (a snide reference to the unfortunate and clueless but otherwise brilliant Daryll Cullinan) evokes a fair degree of humour. The remarkably unsavoury saga involving the rambunctious Kevin Pietersen is dealt with in an unbiased and clinical manner, according the benefit of doubt to all the parties involved before finally weighing down the unfortunate and untimely consequences. The loss of a batsman of KP’s ability while a body blow for England, was however an inevitability and in the long run, perhaps even a blessing instead of a curse. But in no point of time does Strauss belittle the cricketing talent or game changing ability of one of the most destructive batsmen ever to have graced a cricketing arena. The Mumbai terrorist attacks that rocked the iconic Taj Hotel that resulted in an abrupt cancellation of an ongoing India-England series find poignant elucidation. The brave and commendable resumption of the series and Sachin Tendulkar’s superhuman performance to lead India to a sentimental victory makes for some gripping reading.
Even when elaborating about his own lack of form which resulted in him being excluded from the England Test team before a redeeming knock at Napier sealed his place once again in the squad, there is no scrambling for excuses. Similarly the deplorable bleeper on public television involving the ‘c’ word (used to describe Kevin Pietersen) is apologized for and there is also a frank admission of the strain on an already fragile relationship being further exacerbated. Strauss proves that he has the ability to be a capable administrator when he dwells at length on the new rules formulated by the ICC bestowing unbridled powers on the “Big Three” of cricket, Australia; England and India thereby facilitating a further accentuation of their collective financial muscles and administrative clout, much to the detriment of the other cricketing nations. His concerns regarding the untrammeled mushrooming of Twenty20 cricket at the dangerous expense of Test Match cricket also indicate a futuristic outlook, an outlook that warns of a real threat to the most sacred and indispensable version of the game. He also describes the mental pressure that wreaks havoc on the mind of a touring player ultimately triggering the deadly onset of depression. The examples of Marcus Trescothick and Michael Yardy being classic cases.
Overall, Driving Ambition is a pleasure to read and as the finishing pages of the book lead one to believe Strauss is just not yet done with his writing career. In the interests of millions of both English fans and neutrals of the game alike, let us hope that his new found passion not only equals but exceeds the length that illuminated a magnificent cricketing career.
Driving Ambition – Timed to Perfection!
August 6, 2021
It was a typical Andrew Strauss account of his life and career. He touches on the relationship he enjoyed and endured with Kevin Pietersen.
Strauss was always professional and dignified in everything he did as a team member and leader. He does reveal a very human side, that keeps him mortal.
I found it an informative and easy read about a player I always thought was slightly understated.
Strauss was always professional and dignified in everything he did as a team member and leader. He does reveal a very human side, that keeps him mortal.
I found it an informative and easy read about a player I always thought was slightly understated.
February 12, 2020
Written in simple manner and easy to follow the mind of author
June 5, 2020
Just so dull
May 2, 2024
Enjoyed this very much. It felt like a journey back in time to my best years as a cricket fan. It's not especially juicy, Strauss is very discrete and you have to read between the lines somewhat to get his true feelings about some of his former team mates - which I found quite fun!
April 7, 2015
Andrew Strauss was a cricketer and a batsman who achieved most of his success on the pitch by playing a straight bat to everything that was bowled at him.
This book, his autobiography, uses much the same tactic.
If this tactic worked well for him on pitches from Lords to Lahore, and Durham to Delhi, I’m not sure it’s quite so effective in bringing alive a cricketing career which in fact spanned a very exciting and successful period for English cricket.
The problem with a lot of these sporting autobiographies is that they assume that a. the reader has unbounded enthusiasm for the core topic; b. the reader fully understands all of the context in which they are set; and c. there is an easy recall of some of the pivotal events referred to in the narrative.
I pass with flying colours on the first one – I admit, I am a cricket anorak, Kagoul, poncho, Trenchcoat and sou’wester all rolled into one. And although I was pretty familiar with the events and context described in the book – most of which occurred within the last 5 years or so – it all left me pretty cold I’m afraid.
Of course, any former England captain’s autobiography is bound to be compared to the absolutely brilliant “Art of Captaincy” by 1980’s captain – and successful Psychoanalyst – Mike Brearley. There was a book which not only stretched the comprehension of cricket tactics, opened insights onto Brearley’s contemporaries and, surprise surprise, gave a plethora of great pragmatic tips on how to manage character types in different situations.
Now there is no doubt that Strauss is intelligent, articulate, well educated and a well media trained individual. As such, we get little or no insight into any of the quite earth shattering at the time events which punctuated his test career – many of these instigated by perceived “bad boys” Kevin Pietersen and Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff. Yes, these two are paid lip service at numerous points – but no more than that. In fact, he goes out of his way not to say anything controversial about them, or anyone else in fact. We more or less get regurgitated versions of the various press reports we heard at the time. No great new insights are revealed – nothing at all in fact. Strauss plays with his straight bat throughout.
Strauss had a pretty successful career playing with a straight bat – though as a result, nothing much stands out as extraordinary – just a nice, pleasant chap, who did the right things and as a result ended up not really upsetting anyone. His autobiography is a pretty good mirror image of his career.
This book, his autobiography, uses much the same tactic.
If this tactic worked well for him on pitches from Lords to Lahore, and Durham to Delhi, I’m not sure it’s quite so effective in bringing alive a cricketing career which in fact spanned a very exciting and successful period for English cricket.
The problem with a lot of these sporting autobiographies is that they assume that a. the reader has unbounded enthusiasm for the core topic; b. the reader fully understands all of the context in which they are set; and c. there is an easy recall of some of the pivotal events referred to in the narrative.
I pass with flying colours on the first one – I admit, I am a cricket anorak, Kagoul, poncho, Trenchcoat and sou’wester all rolled into one. And although I was pretty familiar with the events and context described in the book – most of which occurred within the last 5 years or so – it all left me pretty cold I’m afraid.
Of course, any former England captain’s autobiography is bound to be compared to the absolutely brilliant “Art of Captaincy” by 1980’s captain – and successful Psychoanalyst – Mike Brearley. There was a book which not only stretched the comprehension of cricket tactics, opened insights onto Brearley’s contemporaries and, surprise surprise, gave a plethora of great pragmatic tips on how to manage character types in different situations.
Now there is no doubt that Strauss is intelligent, articulate, well educated and a well media trained individual. As such, we get little or no insight into any of the quite earth shattering at the time events which punctuated his test career – many of these instigated by perceived “bad boys” Kevin Pietersen and Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff. Yes, these two are paid lip service at numerous points – but no more than that. In fact, he goes out of his way not to say anything controversial about them, or anyone else in fact. We more or less get regurgitated versions of the various press reports we heard at the time. No great new insights are revealed – nothing at all in fact. Strauss plays with his straight bat throughout.
Strauss had a pretty successful career playing with a straight bat – though as a result, nothing much stands out as extraordinary – just a nice, pleasant chap, who did the right things and as a result ended up not really upsetting anyone. His autobiography is a pretty good mirror image of his career.
February 15, 2017
When i started reading this book, i was interested to find out a different point of view of the ashes of 2005, and then the successful years of the early 2010s, it was a great time to be an England cricket fan, however i was also interested in to finding out how strauss, saw the fall out with Kevin Pieterson, and the ECB, however there isn't much more than, what i have already learned from Pietersons own book.
it was also interesting to learn a little bit more about andrew strauss the person the cricketer and the captain
it was also interesting to learn a little bit more about andrew strauss the person the cricketer and the captain
December 27, 2013
He comes across ass a very likeable man but you won't learn anything new from reading this.
April 13, 2014
Nothing much to report really. Didn't tell me a great deal that I did not already know. Also it wasn't that insightful on captaincy. Doesn't take long to read though. As I said not much to report.
October 6, 2014
As boring as he is
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews