The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Cook will step up, claimsAnderson
JA MES A NDERSON predicts the real A lastair Cook is about to stand up in his enhanced role as England cricket captain — with increasing help from his senior players.
A nderson insists the urbane Cook has a “mean side” too, and is confident he can harness that to winning effect in his and returning coach Peter Moores’ much-vaunted new era.
A n urgent reaction will be needed, to England’s debacle in Durham where they lost to Sri Lanka by 157 runs three days ago, if the predicted rains somehow avoid Manchester today.
If Cook reports fit after the groin injury which ruled him out in the north-east, to take over again from stand-in capain Eoin Morgan, the third Royal London instalment represents a pressing opportunity for him to show his mettle — and for the likes of A nderson to help him do so.
“He is a nice guy — but he’s got a mean side to him as well,” said A nderson, who concedes he and other established players must make sure they give Cook more support than they managed at times during England’s descent to a 2013-14 A shes whitewash.
A s the new Cook-Moores regime seeks to set the tone, the next engagement in a one-day international series tied at 1-1 with three to play will be a telling one.
A nderson added: “I think he’s the sort of guy that looks to improve constantly ... and I think that’s something we’ll definitely see over the next few months.
“He’s going to be given a lot of responsibility, I think, on and off the field — and I’m sure he’ll thrive on that.
“I don’t think, over the winter, senior players helped as much as they could with taking pressure off Cooky. A captain’s job is difficult, and he needs his senior players around him to share the burden.”
Pace linchpin A nderson, who will be 32 in July, has no hesitation in acknowledging he was among those who could have done more for their captain in A ustralia.
“I think the senior players have got a huge role to play,” he said.
“A s a captain, it can’t always be his job to discipline people or think of tactics or make bowling changes.” l Teams for today’s third ODI at Emirates Old Trafford, starting at 2pm:
England (possible): A N Cook (captain), IR Bell, JE Root, GS Ballance, EJG Morgan, JC Buttler (wkt), RS Bopara, CJ Jordan, JC Tredwell, HF Gurney, JMA nderson
SriLanka(possible):A Mathews(captain), T Dilshan, L Thirimanne, K Sangakkara (wkt), M Jayawardene, D Chandimal, A Priyanjan, N Kulasekara, S Senanayake, L Malinga, A Mendis.