Strauss nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

	Andrew Strauss has transformed England's fortunes since taking charge at the start of the year © Getty Images
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With the Ashes in his back pocket and a resurgent England leading 2-1 in the one-day series in South Africa, Andrew Strauss has plenty to feel satisfied about. Now he has been rewarded for his performances over the last 12 months with a place in the ten-person shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The last cricketer to win the award, which is decided by public vote, was Andrew Flintoff in 2005 after England's previous Ashes win. Four years on Strauss top-scored against Australia with 474 runs at 52.66, which included 161 on the first day of the Lord's Test match. His cool leadership throughout the tense contest was also vital in England's success.

The year began in very different circumstances with Strauss being given the captaincy after Kevin Pietersen was sacked following his falling out with Peter Moores. Strauss lost his first Test in full charge when England were bundled out for 51 in the second innings against West Indies at Kingston but England have only lost one Test since as they beat the West Indies at home in May and then triumphed 2-1 in the Ashes. During that period his own form has been prolific with 1055 runs from 11 matches at 62.05.

Strauss's Ashes team-mates Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad also received a number of votes from the national and regional media outlets that produced the lists from which the final 10 were drawn. The other three cricketers before Flintoff to win the accolade, which was first awarded in 1954, were Ian Botham after his famous 1981 Ashes, David Steele in 1975 and Jim Laker in 1956.