Writing a book is not unlike playing cricket, believes Andrew Strauss. "As an author you need to show a fair amount of discipline to get a book finished, just as a cricketer needs to spend hours experimenting and honing a technique. More importantly, to be successful, any cricketer needs a strong support network, from coaches and team-mates right the way through to an understanding family, and an author is no different."

Andrew Strauss, after making a dream Test debut vs New Zealand in 2004 (the second England batsman after John Hampshire to register a Test hundred on debut at Lord's), also played a key role in the memorable Ashes victory in 2005, posting a hundred (106) each at Old Trafford, Manchester and (129) at The Oval.

In terms of run-aggregate, Strauss' best series was against South Africa in South Africa in 2004-05, aggregating 656 at an average of 72.88, including three hundreds and a fifty.

Appointed England skipper in 2009 after the abrupt end of Kevin Pietersen's tenure, Struass was to build a partnership with coach Andy Flower that fundamentally changed the approach of the England set-up. He managed 541 runs at an average of 67.62 in the Wisden Trophy vs West Indies and 474 runs at an average of 52.66 in the Ashes - both series in 2009.

This is an honest and entertaining story of a quiet, modest but fiercely ambitious man who became a magnificent man-manager, leading England to victory in the 2009 Ashes series and again in Australia the following year. Strauss is a fine raconteur and this revealing autobiography will appeal to all those who love cricket.

Strauss, one of the most successful and respected England cricket captains of recent times, had announced his retirement from professional cricket at the end of 2012. In DRIVING AMBITION he gives a candid account of the highs and lows of his remarkable career for Middlesex and England.

A superb opening batsman and natural leader, Andrew Strauss captained his country in 50 of his 100 Tests, winning 24, losing eleven and drawing the remaining 15 - winning % 48.00. During his tenure as captain, England emerged from a turbulent and controversial period to become the world's top team. Now, he looks back on a remarkable career that was never as straightforward as it seemed.

Benedict Bermange has done an outstanding job in compiling Andrew Strauss' Test, ODI and Twenty20 record.

The book is a quality product from Hodder & Stoughton, deserving 100% marks for production, designing, formatting and lay-out of scorecards apart from extraordinary colour photographs.