England Can Count On Alastair Cook

England Can Count On Alastair Cook
13:44, 13 Dec 2017

It would be just like Alastair Cook to go out and score a big ton in England’s must-not-lose third Ashes Test, which begins in Perth on Thursday.

He has been here before, up against it and questioned. When captain - despite leading England to two Ashes victories - his perceived defensive mindset when fielding, and inconsistent results, often led to calls for him to be replaced as leader. Never more so than in 2014, not long after he oversaw a 5-0 Ashes whitewash Down Under.

It must be pointed out, not many clamoured for him to be removed from the side. Yes he has lost form at certain stages of his career, but by and large Cook has remained England’s most important batsman over the last 11 years, at least until the emergence of Joe Root as genuinely world class over the last three years.

Everybody knows Cook has been vitally important for his country. Considering dropping him has never been in many a wise onlooker’s thoughts. His sheer weight of runs, over many years, made sure of that.

So while he rightly moved aside for Root as Test captain last year, clearly Cook had to remain first choice opener. Of course, a lack of other options hasn’t helped. Since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012, Cook has had 12 different partners at the top of the order. From Sam Robson and Adam Lyth, to Keaton Jennings and current incumbent Mark Stoneman. He’s remained the one constant, and how thankful England have been for that.

Cook will play his 150th Test at The WACA, but perhaps for the very first time, he does so knowing the critics are ready to call time on his career at the elite level.

Remarkably, this will be Cook’s 147th successive Test. Since his debut in Nagpur in 2006, the only occasion he has been missing from England’s line-up came in the third and final Test of that top of the game and of paramount importance to England ambitions.

Now, as England’s leading run scorer of all time, as well as cap holder, Cook is finally staring down the barrel. Few of those 149 games so far have been as important as this Test. If England lose, the urn goes back to Australia. Cook has been disappointing in the first two matches. Scores of just two, seven, 37 and 16 have meant England’s inexperienced top order has been too easily exposed. Cook has to be the glue keeping it together.

While nobody truly expects a repeat of ‘Cook’s Ashes’ when he embarrassed Australia with 766 runs in the historic 2010/11 series success Down Under, everyone knows it’s vital that Cook, the old head, makes big contributions. He now has to.

Bettering Allan Border’s record run of 153 consecutive matches is at threat for Cook, who will face calls to retire should he and England fail to spark in the final three Tests of the series. For once, after a stunning career that places Cook on 11,691 Test runs, the Essex left hander isn’t being widely backed. The vultures are circling.

Former teammate Kevin Pietersen has questioned Cook’s commitment and believes his career is on the line, while ex-Aussie paceman Mitchell Johnson stated Cook is already contemplating his retirement.

But Cook has never been one to let critics get the better of him. An old-fashioned Test batsman with a penchant for batting long and batting big. The patience of a saint, the temperament all future openers should aspire to have. The coolness of a man supremely confident in his game. That’s the hallmarks of Cook at his best.

Indeed it’s said Cook, who turns 33 on Christmas Day, never sweats. Even after a full day of batting in sweltering conditions. Whether true or not, it shows how he can set the pace and lead by example.

Whether or not Cook is irked by the recent criticism, only he can display that his England career remains alive and kicking. What better way than to rub some salt into Aussie wounds and lead England back into the series. If anyone can, it’ll be Cook.

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