I didn’t think it was over
COOK ROARS BACK
ALASTAIR COOK admits England’s selectors could have dropped him for the fourth Test against Australia following his dismal Ashes.
But after hitting the fifth double century of his career, he insists he never believed it was the end of the line for him.
Cook started day three on 104. He finished it on 244 not out and sixth on the all-time runs list, after making the highest score at the MCG by a visiting batsman. Aussie skipper Steve Smith gave him a second helping hand by dropping him at square leg when he had made 153. But the rest was Cook’s own work and it was highly impressive.
“I have always felt like I had the backing of the selectors but you have to deliver the goods. I hadn’t done that on this tour which has been very frustrating,” he said.
Fighting
“They would have been entitled to drop me because I haven’t scored a run since Edgbaston in two Tests against West Indies, three here, and some warm-up games.
“But I never thought that my career was coming to a close. I’ve always thought about fighting hard and trying to put in performances for England.
“I hadn’t been able to do that on this tour but no, I had never thought like that.”
Cook reached his hundred following a miserable run of from RODNEY WHITE scores before making his fifth double century to join Brian Lara and Wally Hammond as the only overseas players to do it on Australian soil. Had it come earlier then England might have been landing a vital blow rather than just halting Australia’s march to a whitewash.
“When you get into that last-chance saloon you can free up a little and I suppose that’s why I’m quite proud, going to the well again and delivering a performance like that,” he said.
“It’s a shame it’s three-anda-half to four weeks too late. I’ll have to live with that for a long time.”