Former Oxfordshire batsman Andrew Strauss will always remember the day he almost captained England for the first time.

Middlesex skipper Strauss, 29, was due to lead his country in Sunday's aborted fifth match of the one-day international series against India because Andrew Flintoff was resting.

In the absence of a ball being bowled in anger, the fixture will be notable in years to come for ill-temper in a crowd which resorted to violence to vent their frustration after the abandonment was confirmed.

The wet outfield meant there was not even a toss at the Nehru Stadium, leaving Strauss to reflect on getting so close to being the fourth man to lead England in an international this winter following Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Flintoff.

"It would have been a fantastic honour if it had gone ahead," said Strauss. "The opportunity to captain your country is one that would make anyone proud.

"But apart from a couple of chats to the umpires, I didn't actually do much."

England were ushered away from the stadium moments before crowd trouble erupted in the stands.

Tear gas was employed to disperse the rampaging masses as police armed with batons moved in.

However, Strauss added: "We never felt that safety and security was a problem. None of it was anywhere near the dressing rooms."