The Ashes 2013: Andrew Strauss makes impressive Test debut in the Sky commentary box What's more, unlike, say, their footballing counterparts, England's cricket captains - particularly the recent ones - can tell their audience what it is like to win something important. This was where Strauss was at his best on Wednesday: giving us an inside guide to steering England to victory in an Ashes series. He did this in the lunchtime segment known as the Ashes Zone. This was introduced by the excitable Ian Ward (England captaincy credentials limited to his own dreams) as a new hi-tech, virtual reality, specially designed net area. But it turned out it was no more than a Gary Neville-style giant interactive iPad set up next to a set of stumps. Not to worry, Ward was able, via judicious application of his controls, to elicit some fascinating information from Strauss about the 2009 urn-winning series. Take his memory of Paul Collingwood's match-saving dig-in at Cardiff, in the first test. Invited to play some highlights, Strauss said: "Well, in truth there weren't many highlights." He was right: forward defence - however doggedly executed - does not visceral memories make. Modest, succinct, to the point, as he went on Strauss proved himself a splendid addition to Sky's portfolio of former skippers. Though the company does not have all of them. Michael Vaughan is employed in the next door broadcasting box by the BBC. And as for Alec Stewart, he is doing something altogether unexpected for the breed. Rather than merely talk a good game for his money, he is using his expertise to bring on the next generation of cricketers as coach of Surrey. It will never catch on.