Cooky Takes A Step Back
Even before England's tour of India, there was talk that it might be Alastair Cook's last as captain of England's Test side. After a brutal and humbling defeat in the country where Cook made his triumphant debut as skipper, Cook decided the time was right to step aside, and the toll that the job has taken on one of England's greatest ever batsmen was obvious. 2016 was a bruising year for Cook, as England lost eight Tests, failing to see off Pakistan in England before slumping to a 1-1 series draw with Bangladesh, and finally the 4-0 humiliation in the sub-continent.
And it is a good time for Cook to step down, as the next captain will have nearly six months to prepare himself for the role, before taking on South Africa and then the West Indies in seven Tests stretching from July to September, both in England. This is a good warm up period for the new captain (thoroughly expected to be Joe Root) as those are two very winnable series, before travelling down under at the end of the year, to face the toughest possible test for an England captain: an Ashes series in Australia.
Cook has been somewhat unfortunate in the sense that his captaincy has seen him watch over one of the toughest periods in English cricket. With Andrew Strauss retiring, and Graeme Swann following reasonably early in Cook's reign (and past his best when he finished), along with the likes of Johnathon Trott, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen all ending their England careers under Cook, Cook had to battle to find an opening partner to replace the man who had led alongside him for years, replace the best English spinner in 40 years, as well as stalwarts of his middle order. He's been lucky to find some naturally gifted cricketers to shore up the middle order (including the man looking destined to replace him), but finding an opening partner has been a problem that has affected Cook's entire captaincy, and Moeen Ali simply isn't in Swann's class.
Cook's problem wasn't so much that his team wasn't good, but that he was expected to be the man to launch England back to the top of world cricket, a position that Strauss had triumphantly taken them to. Expectation for Cook's reign was arguably as high as it had ever been. Cook walked into almost constant criticism for his style, his decision-making and how the captaincy affected his batting. And his team's high profile failings under him (whitewash down under, slip ups at home, decimation away to Pakistan) have often overshadowed some exceptional results that England have achieved under him, most notably the aforementioned win in India, during which Cook himself scored three centuries.
Having followed English cricket for the entirety of Cook's tenure, I have to say that I am a huge fan of Cook. It always infuriated me when his captaincy was called into question with England 400 runs ahead and cruising to victory. Cricket more than any sport puts relentless pressure on its leader and Cook dealt with that pressure better than most, keeping his cool and using the resources in front of him to the best of their ability.
More importantly, Cook stuck to the principles of his predecessor, Andrew Strauss (pretending the KP debacle didn't happen for a second). Cook stuck with what he knew, trusted his instincts and continued the work that Strauss started, both on the field with his declarations and follow-on choices, and off it, with the choices of the team selection (which are obviously not down to him but nevertheless he has a say in the matter). Cook has often been accused of being too conservative, but that style of captaincy paid dividends for Strauss, and at times for Cook too.
For me, Alastair Cook will always be a legend who will be remembered more fondly for his batting performances than for his captaincy, and that's fair enough, given that he's one of England's greatest ever batsmen, if not necessarily the single greatest, and given that his captaincy has been hit and miss at times, compared to say Andrew Strauss, who will probably be remembered more fondly for his captaincy than Cook, but less fondly for his batting (not that Strauss wasn't a phenomenal batsman of course).
So, in the spirit of positivity, here are Cook's five greatest results as England captain. Note that these aren't necessarily individual performances from Cook, as I'm saving those for when he retires but just Test matches where under Cook, England were excellent.
1. England beat India by 10 wickets - Wankhede Stadium 2012
After losing the First Test in Ahmedabad, it looked as if England were in serious trouble in Cook's first tour as skipper. However, the skipper was in red hot form and having scored a century in the First Test in vain, he hit another one in this match to take England comfortably past India's total of 327, before his spin bowlers, Panesar and Swann, skitted the home side for 142 to put England level in the series, one that they would go on to win 2-1, with Cook scoring a mammoth 190 in that Third Test to complete the turnover. Leading from the front, this was Cook's first win as captain and a huge one at that.
2. England beat Australia by 347 runs - Lords 2013
This was a terrific performance by England to put themselves 2-0 up in Cook's first Ashes as captain. Having narrowly edged out the Aussies by 14 runs in the First Test, there was nothing narrow about this win, as England were totally superior with bat and ball. Ian Bell's century got England off to a solid start, but Australia never got close to chasing England's 361, as Graeme Swann ripped through them to reduce them to 128. Rather than enforce the follow-on, Cook chose to bat again and give his bowlers a rest as Root and Bell pounded Australia into the dirt before declaring nearly 600 runs ahead. Fair to say the Aussies never got close.
3. England beat India by an innings and 244 runs - The Oval 2014
It would be fair to say that India never even got close to England in this one. This was a cracking test series that had started well for the visitors, moving 1-0 up after two Tests, only for England to turn into a juggernaut. Centuries from Ballance and Bell made it 1-1 before Stuart Broad went a little bit bonkers, taking 6-25 to make it 2-1, and then this one. There may have been more impressive victories against sterner opposition in Cook's reign, but none quite so emphatic as this. England's seamers all worked in tandem to skittle India for 148, before Joe Root scored 149* to give England a lead of well over 300. India failed to even get close to making England bat again, capitulating for less than 100. A triumph of bat and ball.
4. England beat Australia by an innings and 78 runs - Trent Bridge 2015
I couldn't not include this one, although frankly any excuse to bring it up. I'll never forget Stuart Broad's face as Ben Stokes made an unbelievable slip catch until the day I die. Australia were absolutely poleaxed by Broad, who took a magical 8-15 to ensure that India were all out for just 60 on a truly astounding morning in Nottingham. The rest was frankly academic, as England hit nearly 400 before bowling the Aussies out again for just over 250. The win that secured Cook's second Ashes victory in England, made all the sweeter by the humiliating way it was done. 5. England beat South Africa by 7 wickets - New Wanderers Stadium 2016
People are happy to tell you that South Africa were a shadow of their former selves when England traveled there last Winter, but Cook's second series win away from England is nevertheless nothing to sniff at. I chose this particular win because it was the one that sealed the series, leaving the Saffers 2-0 down with one to play, as Joe Root struck a magnificent century to snatch a ten run lead for the visitors at the midway point in the match. Of course, I also picked it because I love a Stuart Broad bonanza, and the Notts man then took 6-17 to skittle South Africa for 83 on their own turf, leaving Cook and co with an easy chase and Broad as the world's number one bowler. Take that Dale Steyn (yes I know he was injured).
The Hard and Fast Section
- Ranieri backed. But for how long?
- England snatch an important Six Nations win. Last ditch.
- Ireland lose to Scotland. Wow. Wales thump Italy.
- Gabriel Jesus. Oh boy.
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