Strauss explains why

England captain Andrew Strauss has defended his decision to disallow his South African counterpart Graeme Smith a runner during a Champions Trophy match on Sunday.
Smith suffered from cramp during the latter part of his career-best 141 when refused a runner during his team's 22-run defeat in a high-scoring match. The defeat also knocked the hosts out of the competition.
South Africa needed 313 to stay ahead of Sri Lanka on net run-rate and avoid elimination, but could manage only 301-9 in reply to England's 323-8.
"He asked me for a runner because he was cramping. The umpires were not particularly keen to give him one. I felt that at the end of a long game, after a long innings, you're going to be tired," said Strauss.
"Cramping to a certain extent is a preparation thing. To a certain extent, it's a conditioning thing. I didn't feel that he merited having a runner at that stage."
Batsmen had been allowed runners in the past for cramps, but the England skipper said it was something for the International Cricket Council to look at.
"I didn't feel he was cramping that badly either. He was still able to run. That was my view," said Strauss.
Just a few days ago, the England captain was praised for his sporting gesture of recalling Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews after he was run out following a collision with his fast bowler Graham Onions.
"You just go with each situation as it comes," said South African-born Strauss.
"I think the umpires were very uncomfortable with it as well. My personal view is that you shouldn't get a runner for cramps."
Smith, who did not last long after suffering from cramp as he fell in the 47h over, said there needed to be consistency in allowing runners.
"I was cramping quite badly and I requested a runner. Andrew spoke with the umpires and turned it down. He felt that if you score a hundred, you're going to be tired. From my perspective, it felt a touch inconsistent," said Smith.
"Guys have got runners for cramp in the past, so there needs to be a degree of consistency. From our perspective, it was a crucial period of the game. I was on the field for 95 overs and just felt it was inconsistent, that's all."
Opener Smith was the ninth man out at 274 and his team managed only 27 off the remaining overs to fall short of the target.
"I'm not going to sit here and say that he should have done this or that. The decision rests with the umpires as well. From my perspective, it's just about putting it behind me now," said Smith.
"The thing I've learned from this game is that the world's round. It's going to come back somewhere in the game, at some period of time in his captaincy. It'll be interesting to see how he handles it again."