By allowing Australia to replace its injured wicket-keeper Brad Haddin after the toss to finally begin the long-delayed third Test at Edgbaston, Strauss could not have done more to uphold the spirit of cricket.
The England captain gave Australia permission to select reserve wicket-keeper Graham Manou for an extra-ordinary last minute Test debut.
He came in moments before play started after Australia discovered the seriousness of a finger injury to Haddin suffered during warm-ups and sent him to hospital for x-rays.
England’s relatively new skipper was severely criticised for his ham-fisted delaying tactics in the first Test and disputed slips catch off Phil Hughes in the second.
But he would have been quite within his rights to say no to Australia’s wicket-keeping request.
Law 2 of cricket states: “Each captain shall nominate his players in writing to one of the umpires before the toss. No player may be changed after the nomination without the consent of the opposing captain.”
Australian team manager Steve Bernard spoke to match referee Jeff Crowe about the late change and was directed to meet with Strauss, who readily agreed.
The preamble to the Laws of Cricket says: “The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws.”
In Cardiff England sent the team physio and acting 12th man onto the ground in the dying minutes of the match to waste time when last pair Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar were hanging on grimly for a draw.
It was amateur hour and did not please Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
Strauss later talked of confusion but the only confusion was who sent the support staff onto the ground at such a critical time.
If it was Strauss directly he should be ashamed of himself and if it was coach Andy Flower or other members of the support staff then it paints Strauss as a weak leader for allowing it to happen. And as captain, he takes the rap for it anyway.
At Lord’s Strauss claimed a catch at first slip which television replays suggested had hit the grass first.
Strauss insists that he caught it and had the bruised fingers to prove it.
But if umpires Rudi Koertzen and Billy Doctrove had referred the catch to the video umpire, as they had the previous day with a low dive Nathan Hauritz catch off Ravi Bopara, then Hughes would certainly have survived.
With his grace on the opening day there can be no doubt that Strauss is a gentleman of the game.
It allowed Manou a remarkable step up to the international arena.
So anonymous is the South Australian captain and gloveman that he was introduced as “Garry” by the ground announcer during Australia’s recent tour match at Northampton.
He lasted just one ball, out leg before wicket in the first innings, before scoring an increasingly polished half-century in the second.
No one could have predicted that Manou would become Australia’s first stand in wicket-keeper since Phil Emery 15 years ago, when he played one Test in Pakistan as a replacement for the injured Ian Healy.
Manou can thank Strauss for his brand new baggy green cap.
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