Hussain proud of Cook mental strength
Former skipper Nasser Hussain lauded the mental fortitude displayed by captain Alastair Cook, as England clinched command on day one of the third Test against India at the Rose Bowl.
Former skipper Nasser Hussain lauded the mental fortitude displayed by captain Alastair Cook, as England clinched command on day one of the third Test against India at the Rose Bowl.
Cook remains almost 30 innings without a century in the longest format of the international game, but returned to form with a redemptive 95 in a total of 247 for two at Southampton on Sunday.
"It shows great strength. The pressure he has been under for quite a long time, both with his own game and with England losing, is absolutely immense, so it was great mental strength to produce that innings," Hussain told <i>Sky Sports</i>.
"He is still a work in progress and it is whether he can carry this on, but England and England fans want him to go back to being the run machine that he once was – and he was nearly there on Sunday.
"He will be England's leading run-getter. He was always going to get runs. But can he go back to being the player he was, with captaincy weighing heavily on his shoulders?"
The talented Gary Ballance, meanwhile, solidified a burgeoning role in the first-choice Test XI with a fine 104 not out on Sunday. Striking 15 boundaries in front of an appreciative crowd, the Zimbabwean-born left-hander welcomed the third ton of a promising international career.
"It is remarkable how quickly he has taken to Test match cricket. Ballance had that one game in Sydney when no-one could work out if he was a Test match player or not, but since he has come back to England he has played phenomenally well," added Hussain.
"He has his own method, which is to sit back and cut but I like the way he goes through the gears. When you see him in his first hour you think he is a bit of a plodder, looking to occupy the crease, then he goes through a little spurt where he goes boundary, boundary, boundary and he'll catch up very quickly."
Latest
-
News
England Women wrap up 4-1 series victory in New Zealand
Heather Knight top-scored with 35 in England’s chase of 137.
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.