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Alastair Cook has passed a summer of Tests but limited-overs doubts linger Alastair Cook proves himself for Tests but one-day stuff does not help
(about 2 hours later)
In the aftermath of the winter hiatus this was never expected to be an easy summer for Alastair Cook, Peter Moores (Pete and Dud as they were unkindly and unfairly being called in some quarters before they had even been given a chance together) or indeed for the England team as a whole. And, if the international season ended in an exciting England win in an extraneous T20 international to follow that achieved in the dead-rubber match that finished the ODI series against India, then it would be hard to argue that things had not lived down to that expectation to an extent. By the end England, on their home turf, had managed to lose both Test and ODI series to Sri Lanka, but then came from behind to trounce India in the Tests before losing by an equally convincing margin in the ODIs that followed. This was never expected to be an easy summer for Alastair Cook, Peter Moores (Pete and Dud as they were unkindly and unfairly being called in some quarters before they had even been given a chance together) or indeed for the England team as a whole in the aftermath of last winter. And, if the international season ended in an exciting England win in an extraneous T20 international to follow that achieved in the dead-rubber match that finished the ODI series against India, then it would be hard to argue that things had not lived down to that expectation to an extent. By the end England, on home turf, had managed to lose both Test and ODI series to Sri Lanka but then to come from behind to trounce India in the Tests before losing by an equally convincing margin in the ODIs that followed.
Yet for all this, they managed to emerge in credit. Cook has revealed how close he came to the brink as his team surrendered the initiative and ultimately the match and series at Headingley. It is testimony to his strength of character and the esteem in which he is held within the team itself that he and they rallied to beat a strong India side in the manner they did. Yet for all this they emerged in credit. Cook has revealed how close he came to the brink as his team surrendered the initiative and ultimately the match and Test series against Sri Lanka at Headingley. It is testimony to his strength of character and the esteem in which he is held within the team itself that he and they rallied to beat a strong India side in the manner they did.
In the process Cook, a genuinely good man and one of the greatest of all England Test batsmen, was subjected to a disproportionate amount of abuse, some of it carefully orchestrated and relentless, of a kind that, in my experience anyway, has never before been directed at any England cricketer. It went beyond the boundaries of civilised (and perfectly legitimate) debate and it is inconceivable that such a drip-feed of malice would not penetrate into his consciousness: in this regard, the value of the reception and support that he received from the crowds during the India series should not be underestimated. In the process Cook, a genuinely good man and one of the greatest of all England Test batsmen, was subjected to a disproportionate amount of abuse, some of it carefully orchestrated and relentless, of a kind that, in my experience anyway, has never before been directed at any England cricketer. It went beyond the boundaries of civilised (and perfectly legitimate) debate and it is inconceivable that such a drip-feed of malice would not penetrate his consciousness. In this regard the value of the reception and support he received from the crowds during the India series should not be underestimated.
There is still a debate to be had, though. Cook’s position as Test captain is secure now and rightfully so, but that in the ODI team remains a bone of contention. A personal view – held and articulated for maybe three or four years now, so not a case of bandwagoning – is that he should not have been playing limited-overs cricket at all if England wanted to get the very best out of him in Test matches. This had nothing to do with captaincy (he was not in charge when the argument was first mooted) and everything to do with contrasting techniques at odds with one another. There is still a debate to be had, though. Cook’s position as Test captain is secure now and rightfully so but that in the ODI team remains a bone of contention. A personal view – held and articulated for maybe three or four years now, so not a case of bandwagoning – is that he should not have been playing limited-overs cricket at all if England wanted to get the very best out of him in Test matches. This had nothing to do with captaincy (he was not in charge when the argument was first mooted) and everything to do with contrasting techniques at odds with one another.
It was not that I felt he was not capable of performing well in limited-overs matches, I argued, but rather the manner in which some of the habits picked up in the latter could impact on the former if they became ingrained. Specifically, I cited his understanding of the geography of his off stump and from it, judgment in leaving the ball, which could be compromised by the imperative actually to use as scoring areas those that he would studiously avoid otherwise. It was not that I felt he was not capable of performing well in limited-overs matches, I argued, but rather the manner in which some of the habits picked up in the latter could impact on the former if they became ingrained. Specifically I cited his understanding of the geography of his off stump and from it, judgment in leaving the ball, which could be compromised by the imperative actually to use as scoring areas those that he would studiously avoid otherwise.
Nothing has happened since to disabuse me of this argument. Indeed, to it can be added that one-day cricket has become a trial for him now in any case, largely starved of his big shots square of the wicket, but unable to utilise others. Notwithstanding the perceived demands of ODIs in Australia and New Zealand, with a new ball at either end, he would not be in my one-day teams hereon in. Nothing has happened since to disabuse me of this argument. Indeed, to it can be added the fact that one-day cricket has become a trial for him now in any case, largely starved of his big shots square of the wicket but unable to utilise others. Notwithstanding the perceived demands of ODIs in Australia and New Zealand, with a new ball at either end, he would not be in my one-day teams from hereon in.
However, the way that the India Test series was turned around was remarkable given all that had preceded. It could be argued that success or otherwise in the Sri Lanka series hinged on the smallest of margins: six inches’A more carry on the final ball of the first Test edged to second slip; two more deliveries survived in the second at Headingley and England were winners instead. Against the odds they provided better Test match opposition than did India. It was against Sri Lanka, at Headingley, that the nadir of the summer was reached, when Angelo Mathews, an inspirational leader, and Rangana Herath turned the match on its head as England totally lost the plot. Only the manner in which the England batsmen succumbed brainlessly to the bait offered by Ishant Sharma’s Lord’s half-trackers came close to matching it for ineptitude. However, the way that the India Test series was turned round was remarkable given all that had preceded. It could be argued that success or otherwise in the Sri Lanka series hinged on the smallest of margins: six inches’A more carry on the final ball of the first Test edged to second slip; two more deliveries survived in the second at Headingley and England were winners instead. Against the odds they provided better Test match opposition than did India. It was against Sri Lanka, at Headingley, that the nadir of the summer was reached, when Angelo Mathews, an inspirational leader, and Rangana Herath turned the match on its head as England totally lost the plot. Only the manner in which the England batsmen succumbed brainlessly to the bait offered by Ishant Sharma’s Lord’s half-trackers for India came close to matching it for ineptitude.
And yet against that we saw the emergence of new talent that underscored the Test team as that of Cook, as opposed to Andrew Strauss from whom he inherited. The next 18 months will see Gary Ballance and his idiosyncratic technique tested to the full but already he has shown remarkable mental strength. So too Joe Root, one who suffered a traumatic winter (although we forget how well he played in Adelaide) but has emerged the better for the experience. Moeen Ali has finally managed to cast off the stigma of being seen as a part-time spinner and will surely develop into a high-class all-rounder: his hundred at Headingley showed discipline to go with his more overt flair. And yet against that we saw the emergence of new talent that underscored the Test team as that of Cook, as opposed to Andrew Strauss from whom he inherited. The next 18 months will see Gary Ballance and his idiosyncratic technique tested to the full but already he has shown remarkable mental strength. So too Joe Root, who suffered a traumatic winter but, it is easily forgotten, played exceptionally well in Adelaide and has emerged the better for the experience. Moeen Ali has finally managed to cast off the stigma of being seen as a part-time spinner and will surely develop into a high-class all-rounder: his hundred at Headingley showed discipline to go with his more overt flair.
The decision to persist with Matt Prior as long as they did was understandable at the time given the idea that it was thought the new players would need a backbone of experience to help them through. But after Jos Buttler had scored his brilliant ODI hundred against Sri Lanka there was a chance to tap into the public mood and pick him rather than wait for Prior’s lack of fitness to intervene. As things transpired, the worry should all have been directed towards the experienced players (or batsmen anyway, as Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad were superb throughout). The decision to persist with Matt Prior as long as England did was understandable at the time, given the idea that it was thought the new players would need a backbone of experience to help them through. But after Jos Buttler had scored his brilliant ODI hundred against Sri Lanka there was a chance to tap into the public mood and pick him rather than wait for Prior’s lack of fitness to intervene. As things transpired, the worry should all have been directed towards the experienced players (or the batsmen anyway, as Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad were superb throughout).
So the summer leaves the Test team in good order and the limited-overs sides still in a state of flux. The ODI series against India was reconnaissance: nothing is set in stone yet and will not be until the tri-series in Australia in the new year. And if England would be seen as considerable underdogs come the World Cup, the two wins that finished the season serve to emphasise that on any given day most sides are capable of winning a match against anyone.So the summer leaves the Test team in good order and the limited-overs sides still in a state of flux. The ODI series against India was reconnaissance: nothing is set in stone yet and will not be until the tri-series in Australia in the new year. And if England would be seen as considerable underdogs come the World Cup, the two wins that finished the season serve to emphasise that on any given day most sides are capable of winning a match against anyone.