Cricketer Strauss’s wife dies at just 46
FORMER England cricket captain Andrew Strauss’s wife lost her year-long battle with a rare form of lung cancer yesterday.
Actress Ruth Strauss, 46, died in her native Australia, surrounded by her family, including her husband and their two sons, Sam, 13, and Luca, eight.
Strauss, 41, who credited his wife for helping him lead England to Ashes victory in 2009, said: “It is with great sadness and immense grief that we have to announce that Ruth passed away today as a result of her rare lung cancer.
“Sam, Luca and I will miss her terribly. “Anyone who has met Ruth will know how loving, caring and passionately protective she was of her family and it gives us huge comfort that she was in Australia, the land of her birth, surrounded by those who love her, in her final moments.”
The legendary batsman married Ruth five years after they met in Sydney in 1998, just as he was rising to fame. Ruth was diagnosed with cancer last December, while the England team were playing an Ashes tour in Australia.
Strauss, who captained the England team from 2008 until he retired in 2012, stepped down as director of the England and Wales cricket board in October after three-and-a-half years and following a spell of compassionate leave.
He had taken a break from day-to-day duties to help care for Ruth this summer, saying he was no longer able to fully focus on the national side as he continued to support his family. Yesterday Strauss announced a foundation would be launched to raise funds for research and treatment.
In a statement released via the England and Wales cricket board, he said: “We would like to send our heartfelt thanks to those that have helped with her treatment over the last 12 months, in particular the wonderful team at University College Hospital in London.
“Ruth desperately wanted to help those affected by this terrible disease and we will be launching a foundation in due course to raise much-needed funds to aid research and also to offer support to patients and their families.”
Strauss had thanked Ruth for her support when his England team was on the brink of Ashes defeat during the fourth Test in August 2009.
He said: “The support network you have is vital. Ruth’s been amazingly supportive and the kids have provided a great distraction.”