You could have said the same thing about Vaughan many years ago though, is the point.Cook's young and talented enough to be able to learn the OD game whilst he plays it. If we hadn't of picked Cook there isn't an opener in the Country who's name jumps out at me.
I never said he didn't have the application - in fact I said I was in favour of his selection.Well, I cannot believe that your saying Cook might not have the application when you have seen his rise into County then Test Cricket.
He is the most level headed youngster I have seen in years. He has a great amount of talent, apllication and a very good temperment. All his peers in the game have reffered to him as having an old head on young shoulders.
At 22, if he is not yet a skillful one day player, he can be made into one.
Right man for this job IMO, coz I've seen him play good against Australia many times, in 2006/07.
ODI cricket is not the correct medium for that though. Evidently though, he is a skillfull one day player as can be judged by his List A performances in the last two seasons.
Although I appreciate he has improved his one day form, he has only played 28 (IIRC) one day games and so does not deserve selection.
Don't mix up the development of players like Mahmood with players like Cook. The latter is one who will learn whilst playing at the top level, he has a good cricket brain and knows his game too imo.
Also, only 28? That's quite a few games, admittedly not alot, but if you wait for say 60-70 you may have wasted 3 years of him. Also on the lack of games, some of the best batsman around didn't play many games before being picked for their country.