England have fine chance to finish the job
Alastair COOK could never have imagined what was ahead of him when he lifted the ashes urn at the Kia Oval this time last year, but the England captain today has the opportunity to consign 12 months of near total misery to history.
a win for Cook’s ‘new’ side in the final investec test would not only complete a series victory over india but would draw a line under the recriminations which accompanied the unravelling of one of the most successful of all England teams.
the famous old south london ground is a worthy venue for Cook, the highest profile survivor of the australia whitewash f all- out, to attempt to silence any remaining doubts that he truly is the best man to take England forward.
Not only has Cook twice been part of an ashes- clinching side at the Oval but it was here that he saved his England skin with a century against Pakistan four years ago during what was, before now, the toughest time of his career.
‘We were running around the ground this morning and stuart Broad said to me: “it doesn’t seem a year ago we were lifting the ashes here”,’ said Cook yesterday. ‘i said, “it might not to you but it does to me!”
‘a lot has happened over the past year and i guess the beauty of sport is that you never know what’s going to happen next.
‘We’ve made a big stride f orward over the l ast couple of weeks and this is another little challenge now. How do we cope when we’re up in the series? Can we finish the job? i hope the next year is a lot more successful and less eventful!’
there are certainly real si gns of progress f or England, through the form of the likes of Joe root, Gary Ballance and Moeen ali, but it is one of the senior core of players who have finally come to the fore in the last two thumping victories who is poised to hog the limelight over the next five days.
Jimmy anderson stands seven short of sir ian Botham’s record as England’s l eading test wicket- taker and Cook yesterday paid tribute to the leader of his attack while remembering the uncertain start of their relationship.
‘if he breaks the record here it will probably mean England are in a very strong position,’ said Cook. ‘it’s an amazing achievement for the most skilful in the world.
‘You saw his guts and determination last week when he was bowling so well at Old trafford despite being ill. that tells me what sort of bloke he is and to back that up with talent and skill makes him a very fine bowler.’ the pair are firm friends but it was not that way when they first met. ‘i played against Jimmy for Essex against lancashire and he called me all the names under the sun,’ said Cook. ‘then we went on an a tour of West indies together and we never spoke. We both got called up by England to go to india and i thought: “this is going to be an interesting 48 hours”. But we talked on the plane and now we’re good friends. What amazes me is how he keeps trying to improve.’ if all eyes will be on anderson and Broad — who will play with either a splint or a mask protecting his broken nose — then there will be three other England players with much to prove against what looks a deflated india.
this is a huge game for sam robson who, since hitting a century against sri lanka in his second test, has struggled. ‘it is vitally important we get a settled partnership at the top of the order,’ said Cook. ‘robbo has had a tough couple of games but that can happen.
‘this is a hurdle he has to get over and i’ve no doubt he can do it.’
the stakes are almost as high for Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, who both seem certain to keep their places ahead of Ben stokes and steven Finn despite failing to convince in this series that they are the right back-up to the big two.
Yet England’s problems suddenly seem so much smaller than those of india, who have fallen apart and lost focus so spectacularly over the last two tests in southampton and Manchester after winning so impressively at lord’s.
ishant sharma, who destroyed England with seven wickets on that last, turbulent day at lord’s, is fit to return, which should give india a boost, but whether captain Ms Dhoni is in the mood to capitalise on it remains in doubt.
Dhoni decided to have a day off on Wednesday, apparently to indulge his hobby of shooting, rather than practise with the rest of his side.
‘i felt like having a day off and took one,’ said Dhoni. ‘i was with the team for the three days after Old trafford and we had enough team-building activities. One more day won’t make any difference.’
it is an arrogant attitude which should help England’s attempt to seal a series win here that would mean the world to them and vindicate their own captain.