Hug The Cook

The hits, misses and not-bad-at-alls in captain Cook's first series in charge

Let’s be fair: Mike Atherton wasn’t the only critic who wondered about Cook. Even more crushingly, last week’s Top Spin was not convinced either. But it’s harder to argue now with the leading runscorer on both sides, and the possessor of England’s best strike-rate among the batsmen bar Eoin Morgan.

The capacity for learning is uncanny. So his 119 at Lord’s could have been quicker? How about 95 not out off 75 balls at Trent Bridge! Slow pitches could yet prove tricky, but 31 of 35 at Old Trafford hinted at encouraging possibilities. He was brave enough to drop fellow captain Stuart Broad, and honest enough to admit the change was ‘tactical’. Now all he needs to do is spend the next few weeks leaving the ball alone outside off-stump against India and we can all breathe easy once more.

(201 runs, average 51, strike rate 96)

A year ago, Kieswetter would have struggled on the green, green grass of Trent Bridge. Not good enough in English conditions, they said. This time he belted 72 off 68 and looked every inch the dynamic keeper/batsman the selectors have been seeking for so long. The contrast with Cook could not be more delicious: right-handed and front foot versus left- and back. And, one or two selfless slogs aside, the hitting could barely be cleaner: Kieswetter’s seven sixes were three more than the rest of his team-mates put together.

If his keeping remains a notch below Matt Prior’s, then let’s give him time to improve. But the most satisfying aspect of the lot is that his three off 13 balls at Lord’s – which raised eyebrows of the here-we-go-again variety – was the exception, not the rule.

Morgan’s continued importance to the one-day side was evident in more than his uber-run-a-ball impishness. Twice upon his dismissal – at Headingley and Old Trafford – England suddenly looked half the side. The lower-middle order’s over-reliance on him is both a compliment and a concern: it’s a thrill to watch the one player in the team who bats as if conditions are irrelevant, a worry that he occasionally resembles a sore thumb. And, by his own exceptional standards, three scores between 45 and 57 suggest there might have been more. But we split hairs.

(8 wickets, avge 20, runs/over 3.

SERENDIPITY,RAINDROPS AND ROSES

All the kids go back to school tomorrow and we will have to wait till the next holidays to have some children visit,Olivia will come next time,we will sew out of the book I blogged about previously, cook some cakes and just hug and hug.I am so thankful that our daughter allows the children to come and stay, you seem to get to really know them one on one,however the joyful shrieks that come from having many at once are worth more than anything in the world. I have a loving husband Bob ,married for 40 years,2 children and 6 grandchildren. My 89 year old Mum lives with us full time. I do a rural mail run each day,I am the co -ordinator for our little towns volunteer op shop and find great joy in working hard for our community and its towns people.My family all live away and so I needed to fill my life as I miss them all so much.

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