On a rare day off between the second and third Tests against India, Tom Curran caught up with Alastair Cook at Lord’s to discuss the series so far.
England’s remarkable back-to-back victories against India have given the impression of a team at the peak of their powers, totally dominant, and with every member playing their part.
Strange to think then that Alastair Cook, England’s run-machine over the last nine months, is yet to make a score above 12 in the series, and has had three consecutive single figure scores. He now heads to Edgbaston, a ground where he is yet to score a Test century, seeking a return to form.
“I don’t really enjoy playing at Edgbaston generally,” said the England opener. “I’ve never got any runs there! Things can turn though, and one hundred there will change everything. Hopefully this week I can do that.”
The series has so far lived up to its billing and Cook says that the public’s excitement has spread to the dressing room. “It’s been a great series so far, and really captured the public’s imagination. Every day has been sold out, the fifth day at Lord’s was just incredible with the queues of people there since three o’clock in the morning. People said it was like Old Trafford in 2005, but I’ve never been involved in anything like that before. And obviously it’s helped that we’ve won the games. That always makes it more enjoyable.”
The Indians look set to welcome back key batsmen Virender Sehwag and Gautum Gambhir from injury but the tourists will have to cope without Zaheer Khan, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series with ankle and hamstring injuries. Cook maintains the team are unconcerned by who they face. “If you take world-class players out of any side you know you’re going to miss them and Zaheer is a world-class bowler,” says Cook. “But we try not to talk about it too much as a side, and just focus on ourselves. Sehwag and Gambhir are world-class players and they may well come back in, but we’ve played against world-class players for years.”
Nor is England’s Test match vice-captain concerned by taking the number one ranking from an under-strength side. “In a few years time people won’t remember what sides were put out, they just remember the results. You don’t remember that Tiger Woods wasn’t playing, you just remember that Darren Clarke won The Open. We know that whatever side they play it’s going to be a hell of a battle, like it has been these last two games.”
That steely focus on results extends to his views on India’s Sachin Tendulkar, and Cook refuses to entertain any sentimentality about the Little Master’s hugely anticipated hundredth international hundred. “Hopefully we don’t see it, to be honest! It’s an incredible achievement to score 99 of them, but if he can wait a couple more months to score the hundredth that would suit us just fine.
“He is an extraordinary player, and whichever way you look at his career it’s just been incredible. I’d rather he didn’t score it against us, but it’s hard to keep great players, and possibly the greatest player, down for too long. We’ve done a good job so far though.”
Much credit for that must go to England’s ruthless bowling attack, where competition for places is fiercer than ever following Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad’s Trent Bridge heroics and the expected return to fitness of Chris Tremlett. However, any suggestion that the performance of the bowlers is taking the pressure of England’s batsmen is instantly dismissed by Cook. “The pressure is never off. I think until the last 12 months the bowlers probably held us together as a side, they got us out of a lot of trouble. But I think over the last year the batters have really stepped up to the mark.
“We had to if we wanted to make improvements and become a better side, and I think we have made those improvements. It doesn’t mean we’re there yet, but I think all aspects of our game are looking strong. But one of Andy Flower’s major things is to keep improving, and that’s what we’re always looking to do.”
An ominous message for India and the rest of the world from Cook who believes that this England team – already arguably the best in recent memory – is only going to get better and better.
Alastair Cook was speaking at a net session for Clydesdale Bank, encouraging involvement in grass roots cricket. For more information, visit www.ecb.co.uk/clydesdalebank40
Photography: Bowles Associates
