COOK DENIED WHITEWASH
But now he sets sights on Pakistan
ALASTAIR COOK saw England’s hopes of the 3- 0 whitewash over Sri Lanka they craved consigned to a watery grave yesterday and then turned his thoughts to winning the one Test trophy that currently eludes them.
Rain may have brought an anticlimactic end to a low-key Investec series at Lord’s but there was much for England to be satisfied with as they prepare for the bigger challenges ahead, starting with the visit of Pakistan next month.
‘We would like to have had 90 overs today because it would have put us under pressure as a bowling and fielding group but I think we’d have created 10 chances to win that game,’ said Cook after the final day was reduced to just 12.2 overs and left England with a 2-0 victory. ‘But it was a good series win and we’re ready for Pakistan. If we beat them we will hold all the Test trophies and that would be a fantastic achievement.’
To achieve that England must improve their fragile top order, even though Alex Hales took another big stride towards solving the biggest worry of the lot as Cook’s opening partner.
Hales began this series under severe pressure after struggling in South Africa but hit 94 here to follow two scores in the 80s. Cook said: ‘He’s tightened up his game and has come back in this series as a man who understands a lot more about Test cricket. He’s made some great strides and it’s really pleasing how much he’s improved.’
Nick Compton, though, has surely played his last game for England even though Cook remained diplomatic on his future.
‘He’s shown glimpses of what he can do without going on and no one is more frustrated about that than him,’ said Cook of Compton. ‘He’s got to go away now and score big runs in county cricket.’
It is doubtful, though, if even successive triple centuries for Middlesex could save Compton and he looks sure to be replaced by Durham’s Scott Borthwick when England return here on July 14 for the first of four Tests against Pakistan.
That will entrust the key position of No 3 to a man playing only his second Test and leave another with much to prove in James Vince at five. But it appears, at least in
the medium- term, England are pondering another option.
Jonny Bairstow has been sublime with the bat in scoring two centuries against Sri Lanka and becoming England’s man of the series but his keeping is clearly still an issue for Cook even though he took 19 catches in this series.
There are significant figures within the England camp who would love to promote Bairstow to five and give the gloves back to Jos Buttler, and the captain qualified his praise of the Yorkshireman as an all-rounder at Test level.
‘There is always that thought,’ said Cook when asked if England would consider taking the gloves off Bairstow and let him concentrate on his batting. ‘Jonny’s enjoying both roles but he knows how hard he must work at his keeping. He knows a couple of chances have gone down but you don’t become a world-class wicketkeeper overnight and he has made big strides since South Africa. He is certainly heading in the right direction.’
Buttler has played no red-ball cricket this season and will be unable to do so before Pakistan’s arrival, so it is unlikely England will make the switch now but clearly the spotlight will remain on Bairstow’s keeping throughout the summer. Ben Foakes of Surrey is the other gloveman on England’s radar.
What is not in doubt is Bairstow’s significant improvement as a batsman. ‘It’s great to have someone like Jonny taking the attack to the opposition,’ said Cook. ‘He is very similar to Matt Prior at his best in that he can come in at 200 or even 100 for five and change the momentum. It’s satisfying to see someone who has worked so hard getting his rewards.’
Job done then for England but as Cook leaves for a short break today before beginning his work against left-armers in preparation for the arrival of Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, he knows there is much still to do.