Opening batsmen Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on a century partnership to give India a strong start of 131 without loss at lunch on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Ross Taylor scored 94 and Martin Guptill 60 as New Zealand overcame the loss of a wicket first ball to reach 276 for six by stumps on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan.
The tourists missed Strauss's conviction in marshalling the side in the field and his batting is always valuable because he is such a fluid player when he is in form.