Has Cook’s Time Burnt Out As ODI Skipper?

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Has Cook’s Time Burnt Out As ODI Skipper?



There are plenty of questions surrounding England captain Alastair cook at the moment. Should he be leading the side out in one day internationals? Should he be even playing ODI cricket? Those being the two most predominant.

His year in the format has been less than impressive, averaging just 29 with the bat, making only 10 in the first one day game versus Sri Lanka and followed up with 22 and 34 in the second and third games in the series. But perhaps more damningly, it’s at the rate he’s achieving those.

His 22 in Colombo came in 37 balls and is perhaps more telling of Cook’s criticism – he’s a test match specialist.

Prior to the ‘blip’ in beating Sri Lanka last week, England had lost 15 of their last 22 ODIs against test-playing nations. If that was the manager of the England football team they would have seen the boot. If that was the manager of the England Rugby Union coach they would have been relieved of their duties. So what’s different?

Of course it’s a much bigger decision. Cook is captain of the Test side, a side which comfortably beat India over the summer with the Essex man picking up a few scores, whilst throughout his Test career he’s been an assured leader and consistent run scorer. Losing the ODI gig could affect is performances elsewhere.

Although some say it would better them. And it does make sense. Cook’s assets clearly lie in his powers of concentration which allow him to stand at the crease all day. His strength to sit in the slips and organise his side through three sessions. Shouldn’t England’s captain be that man but a master of the one day format?

That man would be Eoin Morgan, he leads the T20 side, but even the Middlesex man hasn’t hit a one day hundred for 15 games.

It’ll be a tough call for the ECB who have to perfect their squad ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The odds suggest Cook will be far from a Cricket World Cup winner at sixth favourite, but should the likes of young Alex Hales or James Taylor become part of an opening partnership with their more attacking mentality at the top of the innings, those odds could change.

Selectors will certainly have the chance to find out. Hales is likely to come in for Cook in the fourth game of the series with the captain facing suspension for a slow over rate in their win in the third match, only adding pressure to his reign as leader.

For now he still has the backing of his teammates. Spinner James Tredwell has given his full support saying, “Everyone keeps going on about him, but we don’t really notice it in the dressing room. He’s pretty level-headed and calm about it. He is a class player and we are all behind in his leadership.”

It’s unlikely, despite the calls from Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, and Sir Ian Botham, that Cook will step down with just two and a half months until the World Cup, but his time is drawing to a close in the one day format. For England fans, it’s just hoped that’ll be on a high.
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Vaughan and Strauss is a tough act to follow. I can see Clarke outdoing Cook in the upcoming Ashes on all fronts he is a more modern proactive captain and makes a team glow with confidence now I have said a lot of bad things about Cook recently which has been born out of frustration. I don't think he can handle the captaincy, and can only seem to pull and cut he has a poor batting technique and England wont drop him because of his test record. Cricket is always adapting and growing more faster even test cricket more aggressive players and more players that score with a shot selection 360 of the crease. Cook is an old fashion test player that's all and is a dinosaur playing ODI cricket. England could be a great one day team and a great test team they just have to let go of the past and move with the times.
 

Slowcoach

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Cook's numbers compare well enough with plenty of other players, it is unfair he is singled out.
England have had this problem for 20 years...not enough good ODI batsmen...they try every big hitter in the country and only a few turn out any good...in the end they have to put a few class test players in the lineup who aren't as suited to scoring fast.
As for England now, who are the alternatives?
Will compare Cook's average and strike rate to some other England players.

Cook Avg 37 SR 77
Bopara Avg 31 SR 78
Root Avg 37 SR 79 (looks like Root is going to have Cook's problem when he becomes captain, same as Strauss, Vaughan, Hussain, Atherton)
Taylor Avg 38 SR 72

They're all about the same and were picked in the team today, so I don't see why Cook is being singled out as not suited to ODIs.
Cook is out of form at the moment, but that happens to all players. It's always hard to know what to do when your captain is out of form, he's hard to drop.
Cook can retire from ODIs after the World Cup when England bow out like they always do, they are not going to win it no matter who is captain, so you might as well give Cook one chance.
 

_Sam_

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Because then you look at the same stats over the last 12 months -

Cook Avg 28.82 @ 71.74
Root Avg 40.94 @ 78.57
James Taylor 79.00 @ 79.39

Not going to bother searching up Bopara as he's not only in for his batting but also his bowling, and is also constantly coming in down at 7 hardly giving him the opportunity to score the runs.

That is why everyones calling for him to quit. Because he's been out of form for over a year now.

"in the end they have to put a few class test players in the lineup who aren't as suited to scoring fast"

Root? Bell?
 
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Because then you look at the same stats over the last 12 months -

Cook Avg 28.82 @ 71.74
Root Avg 40.94 @ 78.57
James Taylor 79.00 @ 79.39

Not going to bother searching up Bopara as he's not only in for his batting but also his bowling, and is also constantly coming in down at 7 hardly giving him the opportunity to score the runs.

That is why everyones calling for him to quit. Because he's been out of form for over a year now.

"in the end they have to put a few class test players in the lineup who aren't as suited to scoring fast"

Root? Bell?
Great century from Root the other day I wouldn't mind seeing him have a go as captain. A young captain it worked for South Africa. Taylor well he just looks a natural and ahead of even Bell at this moment in time who makes starts but is having trouble converting his scores and at his age I think test cricket is more suiting him. Morgan is a concern he keeps playing lazy shots and I am starting to see his place up for grabs if he keeps this up.
 

Aislabie

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My World Cup XI for England would be pretty drastic:
  • Michael LUMB
  • Moeen ALI :bwl:
  • James TAYLOR :c:
  • Joe ROOT
  • ?
  • Ravi BOPARA :bwl:
  • Jos BUTTLER :wk:
  • Chris WOAKES :bwl:
  • Chris JORDAN :bwl:
  • Stuart BROAD :bwl:
  • ?
I'm not exactly sure who I'd put in the remaining spots in the eleven, but they'd probably be picked from the following:
  • Jimmy ANDERSON
  • Ian BELL
  • Sam BILLINGS (:wk:)
  • Mark FOOTITT
  • James TREDWELL
  • Peter TREGO
 

bigred

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My World Cup XI for England would be pretty drastic:
  • Michael LUMB
  • Moeen ALI :bwl:
  • James TAYLOR :c:
  • Joe ROOT
  • ?
  • Ravi BOPARA :bwl:
  • Jos BUTTLER :wk:
  • Chris WOAKES :bwl:
  • Chris JORDAN :bwl:
  • Stuart BROAD :bwl:
  • ?
I'm not exactly sure who I'd put in the remaining spots in the eleven, but they'd probably be picked from the following:
  • Jimmy ANDERSON
  • Ian BELL
  • Sam BILLINGS (:wk:)
  • Mark FOOTITT
  • James TREDWELL
  • Peter TREGO

Why Lumb? Surely if you want that sort of player you'd be better off picking Hales. One, because over the last 2 years he's been a lot better, and two because Lumb is in his mid-thirties and so won't be playing much longer.

I know Eoin Morgan isn't in form, but he has to play. One of our only players that can win a game by himself. He also plays brilliantly under intense pressure.

Footitt is an interesting one. Has a very good first class record but has only played 28 one day games. He goes for 6.5 an over, which is definitely not what we need right now.
 

Aislabie

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Ha, I've seen this guy bowl before and he wouldn't even get into the Irish team ;)

Really? That's disappointing. I'm just going off YouTube footage, but he looked like he was bowling at a decent lick.

The main reason I threw him in is because I'd want a quick left-armer to rough up the three weakest sides in the group. I also considered Tymal Mills and Harry Gurney for that role, but Gurney has been terrible and Mills just doesn't have the numbers. To be clear, none would be in my side to play against Top-Eight opposition.

---

Regarding Lumb, he was piçked over Hales because of his experience. He may only have three ODIs, but has been involved with England for years and has an ODI ton. He has also played against most of England's opponents and won a global tournament. He probably steps aside after the World Cup to make way for Hales, though.
 

_Sam_

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Footitt looks really good and can really pound it in there and get some sharp bounce at times but for some reason he's struggling with his economy rate most of the time :(.
 

LiveLoveABD

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Cook's numbers compare well enough with plenty of other players, it is unfair he is singled out.
England have had this problem for 20 years...not enough good ODI batsmen...they try every big hitter in the country and only a few turn out any good...in the end they have to put a few class test players in the lineup who aren't as suited to scoring fast.
As for England now, who are the alternatives?
Will compare Cook's average and strike rate to some other England players.

Cook Avg 37 SR 77
Bopara Avg 31 SR 78
Root Avg 37 SR 79 (looks like Root is going to have Cook's problem when he becomes captain, same as Strauss, Vaughan, Hussain, Atherton)
Taylor Avg 38 SR 72

They're all about the same and were picked in the team today, so I don't see why Cook is being singled out as not suited to ODIs.
Cook is out of form at the moment, but that happens to all players. It's always hard to know what to do when your captain is out of form, he's hard to drop.
Cook can retire from ODIs after the World Cup when England bow out like they always do, they are not going to win it no matter who is captain, so you might as well give Cook one chance.


That is the most bizarre post I've read on this board. England have never had issues producing good limited overs cricketers. England have always had issues managing players because they hire goons to run their cricket.

Your yardstick to measure the players you've mentioned is very convenient.

Cook averages 37 and strikes it at 77, when there are 2 fielders on the boundary. Root and Taylor are both very raw and new to ODI's and even on the evidence of what we've seen they've proved they're capable of handling it and do it at a good click. Root proved it in SL conditions, not something English batsmen are used to. I don't think Cook has done anything other than open, while Bopara has been like a yo-yo in the scheme of things. I think, it's safe to say he's a reasonable finisher. He can strike it at 125-130 odd in the slog overs, Cook can't. I'll make a comparison of my own to tell you just how bad Cook is-

A.Cook - Avg 36, SR 76.
J.Buttler - Avg 31 SR 116
E.Morgan - Avg 37 SR 86
M. Ali - Avg 35 SR 109

Let's not forget, Cook bats right at the top. He sets the platform. Either, he goes all honk and tonk and gets them off to a flyer, or he should be able to lay a platform by batting 35 overs for the finishers to come in and do a job. He does neither. Bopara bowls, Buttler keeps, Ali bowls. Morgan is a brilliant fielder and I don't think Cook is a spring chicken in that regard either.

The other English batsmen have always had to be in and out of the side or shuffle batting positions. Cook has been living a privileged career. I can tell you quite safely, he wouldn't have even made it to the Indian/ Australian/ South African teams. (ODI)

To say, England won't win the world cup regardless is very poor form. The Ashes comes once in two years, the World Cup once in four. It's cricket's marquee tournament. If you don't try, you'll never know if you could have won. When can you win then? Better not to even compete.

I don't think England wants to think like that. World Cricket would be poorer without them. I think, when England won the world T20 a few years ago, it proved they're a force in limited overs. It's about the attitude. The very fact that you're so hopeless as an England fan about their chances, shows how bad the state of affairs is. Sympathy isn't going to get England anywhere. Actions will.

Unfortunately, Cook has become that model of self pity and sympathy. Backing him in tests is logical through thick and thin because he has a record and distinguished accomplishments to show for it. To do it in limited overs, is bizarre, illogical and depriving someone else of a genuine opportunity to get his country some glory!

Most unfairly, it's robbing the fans of the country an attempt to lift cricket's biggest prize.
 

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