Middlesex's Strauss allowed to play for Somerset against India

Andrew Strauss, who has played his entire county championship career for Middlesex, will appear for Somerset before the Test series against India. Strauss has been out of form against Sri Lanka and his four innings in the series yielded only 27 runs.

Middlesex have only one Championship match before the start of the Test series on 21 July, such is the structure of the county programme. But Strauss, who is in need of cricket, asked to play for Somerset in a three-day match the week before the Test – against the Indians – and they readily agreed.