CHARLES SALE’S SPORTS AGENDA
ANDREW STRAUSS is expected to return to work as england’s director of cricket at the end of next month after a summer of compassionate leave.
Strauss was given time off to care for wife ruth, who was diagnosed with cancer in december 2017. now the former england captain has effectively revealed when he will be back behind his desk at Lord’s by agreeing to take part in An
Evening With Andrew Strauss at norwich City’s Carrow road on September 21.
nobody as astute as Strauss would open themselves up to criticism by doing such wellpublicised commercial work when on compassionate leave from his employer.
tickets for the Strauss evening cost between £65 and £99 and include a three- course meal devised by norwich City owner and chef delia Smith. those paying top price are invited to the pre- dinner reception with the chance to meet Strauss.
He said: ‘I’m really looking forward to coming to Carrow road in September and discussing the highlights of my career for Middlesex and england and what the future holds for me.’ MCC members are starting to ask why the club receive zero rental income from the three highly desirable properties they own in Grove end road, which backs on to the Pavilion end at Lord’s.
Chief executive Guy Lavender lives rent-free in one of the them, the second is empty after the club paid £8million for it and the Cubans are paying no rent for seven years on their embassy accommodation owned by the MCC.
In contrast, property developer Charles rifkind receives £170,000 a year in rent from each of his three smaller houses on the road.
THE wholly self-indulgent cricket match between teams from BBC’s Test Match
Specialand the Tailenders podcast was described by one of the stars press-ganged into playing as the ‘most embarrassing thing I’ve ever been associated with in cricket’. Even so, the sell-out crowd of 5,500 at Derby and online hits will probably be seen as justification by the BBC.