LONDON, Sept 2: Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee said Andrew Strauss had left a ‘huge void’ in the England team following his retirement from all cricket on Wednesday.

Strauss led England to home and away Ashes triumphs, having also starred as a batsman only during their 2005 Test series win against Australia.

Lee, who as a new-ball bowler was well-placed to observe Strauss’s merits, told BBC Radio Five on Sunday: “If you look as his record as an opening batsman — 100 Test matches and an average of 40, it’s absolutely phenomenal.

“He was a batsman we were fond of, we thought he was a great player. He was a respected player and when you got Andrew Strauss out you knew you were bowling pretty well.”—AFP