Origins put to Test

(2009, 2010-11 tour) also figured well, with Strauss emerging victorious in 24 of the 50 Tests he played in, after he took hold of the captaincy reins in 2007.

Of course, there had to be a lone Australian representative, with Sydney-born Gubby Allen captaining the mother country in 11 Tests, including one against Australia in 1934 and the five-Test tour of Australia in 1936-37, which England lost 3-2.

But you cannot forget Australia in the captaincy conundrums. Percy McDonnell, born in London, skippered Australia in the mid-1880s in the three-Test series against England, while Irish-born Tom Horan skippered Australia in two losing Tests in 1884 and ’85.

Colin Cowdrey, Douglas Jardine and Tony Greig weren’t born in England but still captained the team in an Ashes series against Australia