Strauss crowned England Player of the Year

Andrew Strauss has capped a "dream" year by being named England's Player of the Year in London. Strauss, the 28-year-old opening batsman, picked up five centuries in his first 12 Tests and said the award was a great honour.

"It has gone far better than I ever thought it would," he told AFP. "The key was getting runs early on and proving to myself I could play at that level."

Strauss boosted England with a Man-of-the-Series display in the win over South Africa as he scored 656 runs and collected three hundreds. "The only chance I have had to sit down and reflect upon what has happened was after the tour of South Africa," he said. "When we did get a break I just thought 'that was a hell of a 12 months'. I really have been living the dream."

Despite a poor start to the county season, Strauss is ready for the Bangladesh series that starts on Thursday. His stunning rise also helped England to an unprecedented unbeaten year in 2004. "It is easier to perform in a successful side," he said. "You can afford to go out and be positive about the way you play and back your gameplan. We have all fed off each other over the past year."