Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SECOND TEST HANG TOUGH, COOKIE
Former skipper backed to put in long hard shift at the crease to salvage England’s fading hopes
IT HAS only been two games, but England are again looking to Alastair Cook to lead them out of the mire to the promised land.
Cook may not be captain any more, but he has the hopes of a nation on his shoulders as England try to salvage something from a game they appear destined to lose.
A fanciful target of 474 has been set by the Proteas following their 343-9 declared at Trent Bridge, leaving England with two days to survive or to set a new world record on a fourth day pitch starting to misbehave and take more turn.
“Cookie is such a massive player for us,” said all-rounder Moeen Ali, who took 4-78. “He is the one guy in our side who we know can score big runs and bat for a long, long time.
“If there is anybody who can bat for six sessions in our side it is him and thankfully he and Keaton survived the 15 minutes at the end.
“We’ve got some very good batters capable of batting for six sessions and we know that Cooky is hard to get out once he gets in so hopefully we can see that again.
Batting for a long time is something that comes naturally to Cook, so when he is told to play his normal game, this challenge will not be too much of a stretch. The problem is the rest of England’s batting line-up have repeatedly shown a flagrant disregard for the forward defensive or the leave.
Moeen himself has been guilty of charging down the pitch in a bid for glory when the situation demanded a more tempered approach.
Yet he has also shown the skill and mindset to play more patiently such as when his 108 not out almost saved a Test against
Sri Lanka.
He added: “There have been times in the past where we’ve been playing for a draw and I’ve hit a big shot, but this time I’ll try to take it one ball at a time.
“I’ve done it before and I know I’m capable of doing it. When I get in I will have to see what the situation is.
“I don’t want to say I’ve learnt my lesson because I might go and do the same thing! Hopefully I can get my head down.”
England’s bowlers gave it everything yes- terday and Mark Wood (left, with Ben Stokes) suffered a bruised heel, which makes him a doubt for the third Test.