Forgotten opener Cook fails again
Dec 14, 2017 - 3:45 AM Alastair who?He is England's leading Test run scorer, but Alastair Cook is fast fading into the sunset.
The pressure on Cook has reached fever pitch following his latest failure - a paltry score of seven in the third Ashes Test against Australia at the WACA Ground.
In his 150th Test, Cook was trapped plumb lbw by a searing Mitchell Starc delivery that neared 150km/h.
Cook now has just 69 runs from five knocks this series at an average of 13.8.
In hindsight, his tour had the hallmarks of doom and gloom from the outset.
After stepping out of Perth airport in October in preparation for a tour match, Cook was quickly swamped by the awaiting media.
First question?
"Are you feeling confident John?"
"John?" Cook replied in surprise.
"That's always a good start."
Cook went on to make a duck in the tour match against a youth-laden WA XI outfit.
A series of failures would follow in the first two Tests.
But Cook was confident of turning his fortunes around at the WACA, where he would notch Test No.150 in a match England need to win to keep the series alive.
On the eve of the match, Cook scoffed at talk that his body language suggests he is a spent force in the Test arena.
The 32-year-old added retirement wasn't on his mind, and he was determined to post a big score to keep the wolves at bay.
England captain Joe Root had no hesitation in electing to bat after winning the toss in Perth.
Channel 9 commentator Mark Nicholas then asked Root about Cook's milestone.
"Magnificent for your predecessor Alastair Root," Nicholas said.
"Alastair Root?" Root said in reply.
"One hundred and fifty games. You would have thought you'd get his name right.
"He's been a great ambassador for the sport, English cricket. We're humble we get the opportunity to play with him."
But on his current form, England players might not get the chance to play with Cook for much longer.
Cook is quick to remind people that only five Tests ago he scored a double century - 243 against the West Indies in Birmingham.
But with just one Test century to his name from his past 26 innings, Cook is running out of time to prove he is worth keeping on beyond this series.
Source: AAP
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