ASHES hero Andrew Strauss was originally a wicket-keeper for his first club, a Gerrards Cross stalwart has revealed.

England's opening batsman, who hit a century in the final Test to help give England their first series win over Australia since 1987, first played cricket as a glovesman.

Strauss joined Gerrards Cross Colts in 1992 and made it into the first team before going to Durham University.

But his initial prowess wasn't as a batsman.

Frank Russell, who played for Gerrards Cross over five decades, said: "He originally kept wicket for us but he had to give it up because I think it was bad for his knees.

"He used to bat around six or seven but he was never going to give his wicket away and he did score runs."

Strauss reached the first team as a fresh-faced 15-year-old.

Russell, a former club captain and secretary, said: "Fifteen-years-old is pretty young but he wasn't going to let us down. He won the Beaconsfield six-a-side for us and I think he enjoyed himself here."

And Russell, 49, revealed that there were high hopes for him from an early age.

He said: "James Wesson was his teacher at Radley and he always said that Andrew would be the next Radley student to play for England.

"He had no doubts Andrew would make it."

Strauss, whose picture hangs on the wall of Gerrards Cross' clubhouse would have returned to The Cross after university but signed a contract with Middlesex, who wanted him to play for a high-league side.

He then played for Amersham from 1997-99 before going to Richmond when Middlesex wanted him playing in a Middlesex League side.

But Russell has kept an eye on his former clubmate and noticed Strauss has lost none of his wicket-keeping ability when he took a sensational catch in the fourth Test to dismiss Adam Gilchrist.

Russell said: "That was amazing. I was astonished that he caught it because he went to go and catch it with two hands and then had to go again with one hand."