From a century on debut, via a career-saving innings against Pakistan, to an Ashes series in which Australia became sick of the sight of him: the former captain’s best Test knocksYou just knew. It was not just that Alastair Cook scored a century on debut at the age of 21; it was the way he did it – calmly, methodically and straight after a three-day trip from the England A tour of the Caribbean. It was clear Cook would score many more Test hundreds, not least because he knew his limits - and accepted them – better than most senior batsmen. His cherubic features caught the eye of one local fan, who scrawled a marriage proposal on a banner. Cook...
A new challenge could revitalise Alastair Cook, wildcards in squads can help find the X-factor and the exits of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad must be staggeredThe search for Alastair Cook’s opening partner has overshadowed an even greater need to fill the most important batting position of all. James Vince, for all his seductive talent, is the antonym of a Test No3. There will be more calls for Joe Root to move up, though few captains have had long-term success in that position – Ricky Ponting is a spectacular exception – and there’s a reason why Steve Smith and Virat Kohli bat No4. Dawid Malan has the temperament and adaptability, though exposing him to high-class new-ball bowling might kill the...
Cook’s 244 not out in Melbourne underlined his status as a great of the game, just as Warner’s versatility showed there is no one-size-fits-all route to successCricket is a sport of wonderful contrasts and during the Melbourne Test we saw the beauty of this in Alastair Cook and David Warner. Here are two champions who are performing the same job for their team and yet could not be more different in terms of personality or the way they go about their business. “Finding a way” is a very good coaching phrase in cricket. It denotes the individuality of this team sport. There is no one-size-fits-all route to success, rather a unique path that each player must take to get the...
In addition to his speed machines enduring a slowdown and England’s Alastair Cook in imperious nick, Steve Smith experienced a sudden bout of butter fingers on a draining third day for Australia’s main manYou know it has not gone well for Australia when their coach fronts the media at stumps. Bad Day Boof is what it’s called when Darren Lehmann steps in front of the cameras but this was a case of Sad Day Smudge. Steve Smith started the morning with an upset stomach and could only have ended his draining shift in the field feeling worse.Run ragged by a champion in commanding nick, dropping catches, drawn into increasingly funky fields and, by the end, playing an unwilling game of...
The opener, who likes it hot and famously never sweats, silenced some swirling chatter about his future with a century at the bloomin’ boiling MCGIf you don’t like the weather in Melbourne, wait 10 minutes. Or so the saying goes. Because on the second day of the fourth Test this appeared to be bunkum, with six and a half hours of punishing 35C sun beating down on the cricket and turning the MCG into an oven.Only the hardiest of the 67,882 supporters who came through the turnstiles for this festive furnace can have spent all three sessions sitting out in the open. Ice-creams melted in minutes, the factor 50 was non‑negotiable and for once the watery mid-strength beer must have seemed...