Why the Indians need to be doubly prepared before going to Old Trafford?

Alastair Cook scored 5 in the 1st test, 10 and 22 runs in the second test in the ongoing Investec series against India. The first test ended in a tame draw and the second one the English lost by 95 runs to the Indians. That raised a lot of eyebrows in the English Cricket Board over Cook’s form and captaincy. The English cricket right now is going through a major churn with newer players joining the squad. Captaincy can be taxing for any sportsman especially when the team is undergoing a transformation. When Indian cricket was faced with the dilemma of “who after Azhar?” the BCCI picked up their natural choice- Sachin Tendulkar. Why? Because he was our best player. Can the best players succeed as captains especially in a sport like cricket where the captain needs to be in the limelight both on and off the field?

Analysis of Cook’s captaincy has flooded sports columns in all major cricketing nations. Many former English players have expressed their dissent with Cook continuing as captain after the team’s woeful loss at Lord’s. But should Cook, the captain be written off for his temporary loss in form? For the answer one needs to look at the 3rd test played at Southampton.  Cook reinforced the age old adage of ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’. His brilliant 95 set the momentum for the victory which came in a huge margin of 266 runs.  This return to form of Cook should have left the Indian side worried. They precisely know what Cook is capable of. When England toured India in 2012, it was his first outing against India. It is hard for any non-sub continental cricketer to adjust to the local conditions.  But Cook showed us his true potential. In his first series as test Captain against India, Cook scored back to back centuries in 3 tests thereby winning the series 2-1 for the visitors. It was an historic series win by the English team touring India. Under his captaincy England won the Ashes series back to back in 2009 and 2011.

At 6’3”, Cook has something which most cricketers don’t- The physique to attack. Opening the batting, he is the Matthew Hayden for the English side. His return to form in the 3rd test is not a good sign that will go down well with the Indians. The Indians were hoping to get Cook banned for the 4th test when both the teams escalated the on field brawl between him and Jadeja. But the ICC has now ruled out any such measure. That leaves the Indians between a rock and a hard place in the 4th test. Both Kumar and Shami have tried to ball fuller lengths to Cook which is a weak area his weak area. But the kind of tenacity that he has shown in the past, Alastair Cook isn’t going to be the one who will sit on his weaknesses.

Is Cook’s return to form bad news for the Indian side? That’s a resounding Yes! Come 7th August, Old Trafford will tell us how bad it is.