COOKIE MONSTER
Ex-Aussie coach Nielsen: Alastair the one we fear
ALASTAIR COOK will need to roll back the years this winter if England are to rekindle memories of their 2010-11 Ashes triumph.
That’s the view of former Australia coach Tim Nielsen (above), who six years ago watched England’s then vice-captain hammer 766 runs as the tourists piled the agony on their Aussie hosts.
Cook’s endless flow of runs helped England, skippered by Andrew Strauss, secure a first Ashes win Down Under since 1987.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since.
The Aussies gained revenge for that defeat by hammering England 5-0 in 2013-14, with Cook scoring a mere 246 runs at an average of under 25.
And Nielsen believes he can’t afford to have another series like that if Joe Root’s side are to retain the Ashes.
Nielsen said: “He was just unbelievable in that 2010-11 series.
“When England have played well here in the past, they’ve had top-order stability and Cook demonstrated that perfectly. England also had a fast-bowling group that bowled really well in Australian conditions.
“But it was the top order that really won that series for England because they blunted the Aussie attack.
“The top order have to take a lot of responsibility and Cook is the perfect man for that. He’ll be important on and off the ground.
“Mitchell Johnson bowled extremely well in the last series. He led the attack and put real pressure on England’s top-order batting, which then exposed the middle order.
“Cook will need to help make sure that doesn’t happen again. He’ll need to blunt that attack and go on to make big scores to ensure the middle order has some coverage.
“It’s pretty basic stuff but in a big series like the Ashes, momentum can change so quickly.”
Johnson barely gave England’s batsmen time to draw breath four years ago, with his thunderbolts sending Cook’s side into a spiral in the opening Test from which they never recovered. Meanwhile, the current top order hasn’t looked anywhere as dangerous this summer as it has done ahead of previous Ashes, apart from consistent Cook.
Nielsen believes England’s batting struggles against the West Indies and South Africa have highlighted flaws which must be ironed out before they take guard at the Gabba in November.
And Australia’s shock first Test defeat away to Bangladesh exposed similar failings for the Baggie Greens.
“It probably hasn’t done either side any harm to have a wake-up call,” said Nielsen.
“Going into a big series, it’s better to have those questions asked now rather than halfway through.”