Cook is still deciding whether Compton or Root is the best man for the job
After former Test captain Andrew Strauss retired over the summer, England were left facing a huge problem on who would replace him as the national team’s new opening batsman, but newly appointed skipper Alastair Cook has announced that the decision is still yet to be made.
As of right now, many people are leaning towards Somerset’s Nick Compton to be chosen ahead of Yorkshire’s Joe Root after he put up scores of 64 against Mumbai A and 74 against Haryana.
Cook has already made clear that Jonathan Trott will not be moved up to open the batting amidst some speculation in the past couple of weeks.
Talking about Compton and Root, Cook said: “It’s a cut-throat business and they both have an opportunity to score runs and push their claim, they’re at different stages of their career. One’s far more experienced and has got more runs behind him. The other one’s a lot younger and has impressed everyone at every stage of his career. We’re still waiting to see so these are important days. It was totally open when we picked the squad. Andy Flower and I haven’t seen a huge amount of either. I’ve played against Nick a couple of times, and I played in Joe Root’s first ever game in 2009. It was important we came here with a clear mind and I think we’ve done that.”
Cook knows all about getting an opportunity to open the batting as a youngster since he scored his maiden Test century on debut as a 21-year-old in India.
“Joe wouldn’t be in the squad if we didn’t think he was ready to play, my own situation was helped by the fact I’d been in Pakistan the tour before with the team as cover for somebody and got to know the England system better. Without that I’d have felt very uncomfortable turning up in Nagpur where I made my debut. But Joe’s been here since the start of the tour and has got to know the lads,” Cook added.
Even though England will choose an opening batsman making his Test debut, they will still have their reliable middle order of Trott, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen to keep control of things, should they get out of hand.
England off-spinner Graeme Swann noted that Pietersen’s reintegration into the national team had been a “seamless progress”.
“It needed to happen, everyone was wondering how it would go and whether it would be as easy as it has been, but a lot of credit has to be given to Kevin for the way he has come in. It’s just business as usual and the dressing room is a very happy place this week,” Swann said.
Swann also noted that Pietersen has become part of the team jokes once again.
“In the changing room, no one is safe, KP’s the butt of as many jokes as anyone else. He takes it fine, so it’s great,” Swann added.
Samit Patel looks set to claim the number six spot ahead of Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow, while Graeme Onions and Monty Panesar will battle each other for the opening created by Steven Finn’s untimely thigh injury.