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Alistair Cook
Cook to quieten doubters
Alistair Cook has been the focus of some inevitable verbal grenades sent over by the Aussie camp ahead of the first Test in Brisbane. Australia captain Ricky Ponting has already had his say on Cook by claiming the opener is hanging on to his spot “by the skin of his teeth”, with some press Down Under labelling him England’s weak link.
The left hander can’t hide the fact that he did come close to losing his place at the top of England’s order during a tough summer against limited opposition. Against Bangladesh and then the beginning of the Pakistan series, the Essex boy managed a meagre 106 runs in eight innings. That form prompted widespread calls for the 25 year old to be dropped from the squad.
Cook silenced the critics placing a cricket bet on him losing his place with a sublime 110 during the losing fourth Test against Pakistan, most probably ensuring his place in the starting 11 in the first Test of this Ashes series.
The England selectors showed faith in the batsman they have nurtured since he made his debut as a promising 21 year old. Since his debut against India in 2006, Cook has gone on to collect 60 Test caps, hitting 13 centuries in that time. In that collection of hundreds Cook has so far only managed to hit one against the Aussie’s. That knock came at Perth in 2006, Cook collecting only the third century by an England batsman during the disastrous Ashes tour in which England lost 5-0. Despite only averaging 27 during the tour, the century gave the 22 year old plenty of confidence heading into his Test career.
Although it has been a tough season at times for Cook, the Aussie’s and those looking at Ashes cricket odds mustn’t overlook the fact he has made four centuries over the past 12 months, with three of them coming in his last eight Tests. The opposition this summer were nowhere near the standard that the Aussie’s will bring to the table but Cook will be looking to do the simple things right and hopefully give England a decent platform to post some high totals.
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