Cook fuels Hartley’s desire to stay at top

Dylan Hartley has revealed that a conversation with Alastair Cook after the cricketer’s recent England retirement has made him realise that such an option is not for him.

There had been speculation that the Northampton hooker, who is expected to lead England into the November Test series and to the 2019 World Cup in Japan, might be forced to consider his future after yet another head injury in March caused him to miss the remainder of the season and the summer Test series against South Africa.

Yet Hartley has returned in full bloom, intent on regaining his starting spot from Jamie George and picking up the captaincy reins from Owen Farrell. Cook, 33, spoke of having “nothing left in the tank” when he called it a day. Hartley, by contrast, is running on full aged 32.

“Some of the things he [Cook] said to me made me think that I’m still in a good place professionally and with sport,” said Hartley.

“It [the lay-off] makes you work out what you need to do to be a contender again. It definitely makes you realise what you’re missing and how badly you want it. I have still got the desire to be involved in something good.”

The arrival at Franklin’s Gardens of double World Cup winner Ben Franks, 34, has given Hartley fresh insight into the singular focus required to continue performing at the top level.

“Ben trains better than anyone I have ever seen and told me that he is ‘scared that if he stops doing the work, his body will shut down’,” said Hartley.

During this week’s three-day England camp in Bristol, Hartley acknowledged that the 12-month countdown to the World Cup has brought an extra edge.

“There is definitely a heightened sense of excitement,” he said. “Everything we have been working towards is drawing in.”