England cricket captain, Andrew Strauss, managed to bow out with grace – unlike most stars in sport and pop

“I’d run my race,” Andrew Strauss admitted to a roomful of reporters. Few punishments must be as cruel as having to strap yourself into a suit and explain live on TV why you are retiring from professional cricket, yet the England captain managed it with grace. There was none of the teariness that afflicted Michael Vaughan when he bowed out. While most stars – in sport or pop (hello, Sir Mick) – want to hang around well after their sell-by date, Strauss showed self-awareness about his recent troubles with the bat and a firmness that he will now be only an “interested spectator”. All this was of a piece with a captainship that provided England with much-needed stability. Never the flashiest skipper, Strauss was dependable and courteous, even spending the day before his resignation writing letters to other players. As their tributes showed, most of his teammates appreciated those qualities. Kevin Pietersen, take note.