Birthdate: March 2, 1977

Birthplace: Johannesburg, SA

Batting style: Left-hand bat

Bowling style: Left-arm medium

1997: Makes Middlesex one-day debut.

1998: Makes Middlesex first-class debut.

2002: Appointed M'sex captain.

2003: Makes England one-day international debut.

2004: In May, makes dramatic Test debut at Lord's by scoring 112 and 83 against New Zealand after replacing injured captain Michael Vaughan. His performance prompts the retirement of ex-England captain Nasser Hussain.
lIn December, scores 126 and 94 to help England to a seven-wicket win in first Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth.

l2005: In August, scores 106 against Australia and in September adds another century at The Oval as England regain the Ashes.

l2006: In April, captains England for the first time when Andrew Flintoff is rested for the sixth ODI against India in Jamshedpur.

lIn June, with Flintoff injured, is England's captain as they are thrashed 5-0 at home in a one-day series by Sri Lanka.

lHowever, with both Vaughan and Flintoff injured, leads England to Test series victory over Pakistan. But he then loses the captaincy to the fit-again Flintoff for the subsequent tour of Australia.

l2007: Returns home after managing just one fifty as England lose the Ashes 5-0. Initially left out of the World Cup side in the Caribbean before playing in the team's final match of the tournament against West Indies.

l2008: In March, initially struggles upon his recall to the Test side before coming good in England's final innings of the series when he makes 177 - his highest Test score - in Napier.

Finds runs hard to come by during home series with South Africa but in December becomes first England batsman to make hundreds in both innings of a Test in India with scores of 123 and 108 in series opener at Chennai.

2009: On January 7, appointed England captain for the West Indies tour following Kevin Pietersen's resignation.

u00a0