Stuborness Proves Cook's Undoing

 

 

Cricket 2014

 

Finally the axe falls

 

December 20^th 2014

 

Finally, Alistair Cook has been relieved of the ODI captaincy. After weeks of mixed signals, first seemly confirming him in his role, then saying that the axe might fall, repeating the cycle several times, true to form, Alistair Cook has had to be sacked to get him to leave the post. His successor is not the greatest surprise. Had it been Joe Root then the endless speculation about Alistair Cook losing the Test captaincy too would have started afresh. Had it been James Taylor, fans would have been stunned by a really adventurous move. Morgan is the steady move: he was the regular stand-in already and was captain for England’s only ODI series win for eighteen months. That said, the calls for Morgan himself to be dropped have got louder and louder over the last year so, unless the captaincy sparks a glorious revival in him, it may only be a short-term appointment.

Cook is no stranger to Australia-induced runs of poor form. He had a very poor run against Australia in 2009 that continued for the 1^st Test in South Africa that winter, before he roared back with three centuries and two fifties in his next five Tests. His current run though is unprecedented: 17 Tests, going back to New Zealand at Headingley in late May 2013 since he has made a Test century; the fact that he has made nine half centuries since then without once converting one speaks volumes. The question now is whether or not he can re-capture his Test form and appetite for run-scoring: not everyone is convinced that he can.

Alistair Cook seemed to predict his fate when saying at the end of the Sri Lanka series that he could have no complaints if he were sacked: it looks as if the strain had finally got to him after twelve months of being questioned constantly.

This though has been such an unnecessary crisis. If Alistair Cook had had the sense to give up the ODI captaincy after the Test series against India, he would have been hailed as a hero, the unquestioned captain of the side. Someone else would have taken the rap for the expected defeat in Sri Lanka and the anticipated debacle in the World Cup, with Cook coming back against the West Indies as the saviour in a Test series against a side that is increasingly unable to offer more than token resistance against serious opposition.

Eoin Morgan at least has a licence to go out and be his own man. With Scotland, Afghanistan and Bangladesh in England’s group, together with the Sri Lankans who have won just 38 of 133 ODIs in Australasia, it would take a disaster of unprecedented proportions for England not to make the Quarter Finals. With the two hardest matches being the first two group games, a win in either might just set the set team up for a run that could just surprise a few cynics.

Meanwhile, Australia are giving more signs that their current side is more fragile than it seemed. Having been whitewashed by Pakistan, they were expected to defeat India with great ease. However, despite being 2-0 up in the series, India could have won both Tests and Australia have looked distinctly ragged at times. India’s young side seem to be showing real spirit. Whether or not they can convert “real spirit” into a Test win in this series is an interesting question: if they were to win the 3^rd Test, it would not be hard to imagine them completing an amazing comeback in the series.