WISE AND SHINE!
Cook calls for end to off-field antics
® from RODNEY WHITE in Perth
ALASTAIR COOK admits England have got to wise up.
He says the team have struggled to come to terms with the change in public opinion since Ben Stokes’ arrest.
But the former skipper claims they are now determined to set the record straight – starting with the third Ashes Test in Perth tomorrow.
He said: “The world has obviously changed for the England cricket team since September yet it’s probably taken us a couple of months to really realise that.”
Referring to the Jonny Bairstow headbutt, and Ben Duckett pouring a drink over Jimmy Anderson last Friday, Cook added: “These last two incidents have probably proven that.
“I’ve seen the word trivial written down, a misdemeanour at best and a very lowkey thing, but obviously since the Stokesey thing in September times have changed for the England cricket team.
Rubbish
“What I will say about this England side is I’ve never seen a side work this hard.
“Whether we win, lose or draw, whether we play well or rubbish, the effort from the guys is unbelievable.
“There’s a group of men in there, 16 or 17 of them, who are desperate to do well and Trevor (Bayliss, the England coach) is cancelling practice sessions after three and a half, four hours.
“He’s saying, ‘You’ve got to stop now, you’re wasting energy, you’ve got to save it for the Test match’. That’s just people desperate to do well.
“At the moment, I don’t think we’re being painted fairly in the media on our culture.
“But, clearly, there’s been a couple of things that have been brought up and that’s because the world has changed since September and it’s up to us to adjust to that quickly.
“We can’t afford any more mistakes because we understand the stakeholders, the ECB, sponsors and stuff are trying to encourage kids to play cricket and that’s what we want.”
Cook also insists he is not ready to quit, despite his
poor run that has contributed to England trailing 2-0 in the five-match series.
Tomorrow’s game at the WACA will be his 150th Test and Cook added: “I was with Gary (Palmer, England Lions coach) for an hour and a half, desperately trying to keep working at my game. That’s probably not a guy who’s given in.
“Do I have a desire to carry on? Absolutely. I wouldn’t be going to do extra gym sessions and extra batting behind closed doors if I wasn’t.”
Cook will be a key figure as England attempt to stage a remarkable comeback, but skipper Joe Root insists it can be done.
Root said: “Ultimately, we have to be really smart in how we prepare and get things right in that respect.
“If we do that and have clear ways of how we go about things, that’s what will give us the best chance of winning, not looking at history and what’s gone before.”
Root also admitted he expected more of vice-captain Anderson, who had that drink poured over him by Duckett in Perth.
He said: “Yes, maybe a little bit. A lot of people have spoken and given their views. But his focus now has to be about leading that bowling attack and doing the right things on the field.”