England could still use an old-fashioned batsman in the highest order despite the success of ‘Bazball’, says batting legend Alastair Cook…
- Stokes and McCullum have transformed England with their all-action style
- England’s record goalscorer impressed by ‘Bazball’ success
- Cook admits England’s bowlers have proven him wrong in Pakistan this winter
Alastair Cook believes there is still room on England’s modern side for the old-school batting qualities that earned him nearly 12,500 test runs.
The England record goalscorer has watched with admiration from a distance as Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum transformed an underperforming side with their all-action style.
But Cook feels there is still a place for the kind of application he brought to the top before bowing in the best possible way in 2018 with a century against India in his 161st Test.
“I still think there is still room for consistency at the top of the table with that England side,” Cook said before starting another county season for Essex against Middlesex at Lord’s on Thursday aged 38.
“Players who may not score that fast, but more often than not guarantee results for their side.
England’s record goalscorer, Alastair Cook (above), scored nearly 12,500 Test runs
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have transformed England with their all-action style
“I don’t think Ben and Brendon have ever said they don’t want that. But what they’ve done is give freedom to players who may not have been quite able to play Test Cricket in the same way they do in their country. They’ve said, ‘this is how we play. If you’re not sure what to do, play this way, if not, do it your way’.
Cook admits the new England have shown him more wrong with the ball than the bat this winter by being able to take 20 wickets per test to beat Pakistan 3-0 in the sort of conditions that have long raised driven bowlers with the Dukes ball on green fields to distraction.
“I remember saying ‘will the way they play work in certain environments’, but I was wrong,” the former England captain admitted.
“I think it’s down to a willingness to learn and a willingness not to be constrained by blinders, but also a tremendous amount of skill.
“Ben has done a particularly good job in the five tests this winter and it has been great to watch. How many of even the very best teams have won in Pakistan? Not much. So to do what they did the way they did it was extraordinary.”
Cook never intended to play again as he is approaching 40 when he retired from Test cricket five years ago, but he will once again lead the way for his beloved Essex as they try to emulate the red ball shape that, thanks in large part to him, brought them the 2019 Championship and 2020 Bob Willis Trophy titles.
“I certainly surprised myself at how long I played,” said a man who made his Essex debut in 2003. “It was great to be part of the squad that won trophies in 2019 and then Covid got in the way and extended my career in a way.
“I’ve always said to the coaches, ‘If I still like it and add value, I’ll keep going.’ I know I won’t be playing much longer because I’m 38, so why not just enjoy it while I can?’