Occasionally an article lands in my inbox at exactly the right time. And this is one of them. I’ve long thought that Alastair Cook’s form would be absolutely in the Ashes. And I think, in many ways, he needs to have a good series to safeguard his legacy as an ostensibly great batsman.
Cook’s Ashes record really isn’t very good. In fact, if you take out that amazing series in 2010/11 – which came against the weakest Australian attack I can remember – then it’s outright poor. Did you know that Alastair has never scored an Ashes hundred at home? It’s strange but true.
There’s obviously no time like the present for Cook to put things right. So here’s new guest writer Jacob Savill with his take on England’s former captain, and how vital his contribution will be this winter.
You know those awkward questions that everyone’s thinking, but no one really wants to say out loud – nor even admit to themselves? Well, I’ve got one for you:
When was the last time Alastair Cook was heavily in the runs?
The traditional media line about England’s batting line-up is fairly well-rehearsed at this point. You probably know it (heck, you’ve probably used it): ‘The rest might be a bit shaky, but at least we’ve got two world class players in Joe Root and Alastair Cook.’
On paper, at least, this is true. But let’s be honest, in the last few years Cook hasn’t really proved his world-class credentials with the sort of relentless consistency that allowed him to acquire them in the first place.
This may seem harsh but look at the statistics. When you think of peak Cook – his Terminator mode, as I call it – you probably think of the three-year period between 2009-2012, in which he bagged 16 Test centuries, at an average of over 65.
He had those two iconic overseas tours, the Ashes down under in 2010/11 – where he averaged a mammoth 127 – and England’s tour of India in 12/13. This was android Cook. The cybernetic batting-machine of human form, designed by the nation’s top scientists with the sole function of scoring as many runs as possible.
Since then, slowly but perceptibly, he has faded. From the beginning of 2013, Cook has averaged a shade under 42 in Test cricket – a modest return for a world-class cricketer. And even this number has been propped up by a couple of his famous “daddy hundreds,” like the 263 in Abu Dhabi, and the 243 against the Windies this summer. In fact, he has scored only 6 other Test centuries in the last 4 years. These are fairly average numbers, no?
Just to be clear, I hope you don’t think at this point that I’m being overly negative for the sake of it. Quite the opposite. I actually think Cook’s dormant potential should be exciting news for England fans going into the Ashes.
In the last 24 months or so, under Bayliss, England have shown themselves to be a talented, yet inconsistent Test side. What we don’t really know, though, is how good this England team can be with the fully activated, turbo-charged Alastair Cook android, firing on all cylinders.
It’s been a trope of English cricket in the last few years, that the team always seem to find themselves in deep trouble after the first hour. We’re always 3 or 4 wickets down, and then have to be bailed out by our S.O.S middle order. Which is why an on-song Alastair Cook could make all the difference …
Suddenly, instead of 3 or 4 down, we might even find ourselves in a strong position at lunch. Can you imagine that? And from there, bowlers start to tire, and our aggressive late-middle order – with or without Ben Stokes – have a license to propel us quickly onto a big first-innings score.
I’d even go as far to suggest that the form (or lack thereof), of Alastair Cook is such a powerful weapon, it will be the single biggest factor in deciding the outcome of the Ashes. Good or bad.
And since we all like to talk up Cook as still being a world-class batsman (or at least, we pretend that’s what we’re thinking), it’s about time, when it really matters, he started to bat like one.
After all, England need him.
Jacob Savill
Again, only the ECB stooge fans Trott our Cook as being the player he was for that short period. Hopefully he has a resurgence though otherwise we are relying on very bang average players having a one off stormingly good series
It’s worh remembering that both sides are poor so even this England side could walk away with the ashes and then most people will forget how poor a side they both are
How long are people going to keep holding out for the Second Coming? Face it: It isn’t going to happen. Chef has a poor record down under and hasn’t scored a ton against Australia for seven years. That’s no Ashes century at home or away in any of the last three series. There’s nothing about his recent performances or form against even half decent fast bowling (he hardly tore up trees against South Africa this summer and the way he let himself get bounced out by Chris Morris at Trent Bridge says it all) to suggest that poor run is likely to end. I’m sure he’ll get the odd half century but he’s not going to make the difference for England. Not that there’s anybody else knocking on the door to take over, which is concerning in itself.
I think I’ve spent the last nigh on 4 years talking about this so I won’t go over too much, however the back to back series really destroyed Cook as having a real chance of being a true great. Since then he’s regressed to the mean of being a good but not truly outstanding player. The other side of the coin in thiking that he might be due a big series is that at nearly 33 he may not have an outstanding series left in him against a good quality bowling attack, which Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood and Lyon are. His best hope of being producive is if at least one of the aforementioned quicks breaks down as they have so often.
Then again like others are saying Cook really is probably the 2nd best batsmen that England have out in Australia with Bairstow having gone off the boil with the willow, Stokes otherwise indisposed and so any other holes in the batting line-up going into this series.
It really is odd that Stokes is considered a contender for England’s 2nd best bat. He had a decent 2017, but an average of 43 (and career average of 35) does not make him a world class bat. He is more the equivalent of an impact substitute in rugby or football. Occasionally he will come off wonderfully – but world class requires consistency.
As for Cook. My question is how he will do against Hazlewood. Given Cook’s talent for playing square of the wicket on both sides he should benefit from the pace of Starc and Cummins unless he is really out of touch. But the nagging length and movement of Hazlewood is most likely to find him out down the corridor of uncertainty. Cook v Hazlewood will be an interesting contest.
Didn’t say that Stokes had been brilliant but that his greater consistency in the last 18 months or so made him one of the better batsmen in a brittle English batting line-up. As well as this, I would have backed him to be at least a competent player of the Aussie quicks and he looks to be an improved player of spin.
I think the Aussies are intelligent enough to realise that what has worked well enough against Cook in the past, i.e.. getting him to come forward more, will likely at least limit him to unspectacular returns if not better.
The Australian quicks will probe relentlessly just outside cook’s off stump. If he can resist the temptation to play at them until lunch then he will get some easy runs on the leg side in the afternoon as the bowlers lose patience. We will need someone at the other end though to keep the scoreboard ticking over in that morning session. 40-2 at lunch could easily become 150 all out. 70-1 gives us hope of reaching 400.
Cook has been stifled in recent years by the pressure of having a succession of inferior opening partners. If Stoneham can provide some consistency at the top of the order then he won’t be under that same pressure to carry the early batting. He still has the temperament to bat all day, probably the only man on either side who can claim that. Now that he’s free of the cares of captaincy, he can focus all his attention on this.
Without Stokes in the middle order we don’t have the same ability to recover from bad starts and I still feel that Root will be considered the decisive wicket by the Aussies. His cheap dismissal will certainly affect morale more. He has the technique and confidence that comes with consistency and the side is used to relying on his runs, much in the same way as the Aussies do with Smith.
There will be plenty of key duals, involving good players and I feel we are set for a close series, both sides having enough depth of match winning talent to ensure consistent interest. People feel home advantage may swing it for the Aussies, but if things don’t go well for the home side public opinion and panic selections can work against them. The away side also have a greater opportunity to bond into a team, being together as a group for the whole series.
But without Stokes at no5 we may also be less prone to going straight from 2 down to 3 down. The problem with Stokes is he is feast or famine rather than consistent. Far more of a test no7 than no5. That he is batted at 5 is more a condemnation of the alternatives and of the team’s reluctance to bat Bairstow at 5.
If you listen to what players from other countries feel about Stokes he is clearly held in high esteem. Lyon and Cummings were both interviewed recently about him and clearly see his absence, as as a genuine all rounder, being key to the series, but particularly as a batsman, where like Peterson, he can take the game away from you in a sessson. This is not the view they would hold of a No 7 ‘batsman’. Stokes needs to be given the time at the crease to develop his suspect temperament into a test batsman. This would not happen down the order, where he could easily run out of partners and revert to his big bash style, a waste of his enormous potential. He plays straight, how many boundaries does he score between mid off and mid on, has a great eye, which minimises risk when playing a hitting game, and a solid defence when needed, a proverbial maker’s name job with no closing of the face, so prominent with other more specialist batsmen in this England side. He is already a better all round batsman than Botham or Flintoff ever were, if not yet the bowler, and no one suggested they bat down the order.
“he can take the game away from you in a session. This is not the view they would hold of a No 7 ‘batsman’
I can remember a guy called Gilchrist who was quite a useful number 7.
Example of the exception proves the rule me thinks.
He isn’t batted at 5, he’s always in at 6
Apologies. You are right. I was thinking of his white ball position.
I think it’s expecting a lot to expect Cook to average over 50 in this series.
If he averaged 42* that would be a very good return for an English opening batsman facing a very highly rated Aussie bowling attack.
(* I caveat that by saying if he averages 42 due to a score of 273* at the SCG by which point England have already lost the series, it would not be a good return)
The Australian batting line-up, particularly now Bancroft, Marsh and Paine have been introduced, looked brittle as hell. First innings totals of 300ish may be enough to win the series for England. Cook averaging 40ish, consistently getting England off to not awful starts could be a key part of that.
It’s going to be tough. He’s on a decline and he’s facing a top class attack.
The quality of the Aussie bowling should inspire Cook not to give it away with careless shot selection. It’s a great opportunity to silence the doubters. There is no evidence he wilts under pressure, more that he relishes new challenges. His temperament is ideally suited to this.
I think it’s expecting a lot to expect Cook to average over 50 in this series.
If he averaged 42* that would be a very good return for an English opening batsman facing a very highly rated Aussie bowling attack.
(* I caveat that by saying if he averages 42 due to a score of 273* at the SCG by which point England have already lost the series, it would not be a good return)
The Australian batting line-up, particularly now Bancroft, Marsh and Paine have been introduced, looked brittle as hell. First innings totals of 300ish may be enough to win the series for England. Cook averaging 40ish, consistently getting England off to not awful starts could be a key part of that.
It’s going to be tough. He’s on a decline and he’s facing a top class attack.
I want Alastair Cook to hammer at least 3 centuries in this Ashes!