Is Cook’s tenure as England captain over?
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
“Joe Root is ready to captain England” is what regular skipper Alastair Cook said after his side were thrashed by an innings and 36 runs by India in the fourth Test in Mumbai.
In what could be perceived as a hint that his time in charge of the national team could be coming to an end, Cook admitted that he needed to take a step back and ask himself “some questions” regarding hid future.
Speculation has been rife about Cook’s future as captain since last month as he told The Cricketer Magazine: “Deep down I don’t know how much longer I am going to carry on. It could be two months, it could be a year.”
Despite this, Cook insisted that his views on leading England “have not changed” and he will continue to take things series by series before he speaks to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director Andrew Strauss and makes a decision.
“I think Joe Root is ready to captain England,” Cook said. “He is ready because he is a clued-up guy and he has the respect of everyone in the changing room.
“You never know until you actually experience it and everything that comes with the England captaincy. You are thrown in at the deep end and you kind of sink or swim. Nothing can prepare you for it. He has not got much captaincy experience but that does not mean everything.”
If Cook still has doubts about his future going into England’s summer at home, it is possible that Root could be given the reins in order for him to gain some much-needed experience. England will take on South Africa and the West Indies on home soil next year prior to travelling to Australia for the Ashes.
After the ongoing tour of India concludes next week, Cook will play no international cricket until July 2017. There is no doubt he will use that time to mull over his next move, but he reiterated that he still loves and cherishes every moment he leads his country.
“The comments I made at start of series have not changed,” Cook said. “It sticks true to end of this series. I will sit down with Straussy at the end of the year like we have made the pact to do to talk honestly and openly about stuff. My position has not changed and wouldn’t have done had we won this game or lost this game.
“Of course you have questions. Naturally you look at stuff. Clearly it is a hard place to tour, certainly with the balance of our squad in terms of where our strengths lie, the sub-continent is going to be a harder place to tour than somewhere like South Africa.
“But being captain of England is a huge honour, a huge privilege. You are at the forefront of the team and it comes onto your shoulders when you win or lose. In the heat of the battle you make those decisions. You go to bed at night and you have to live with making good or bad decisions. As a bloke to be asked to lead your country is a huge honour personally.”