'I wouldn't wish Cook's form on my worst enemy'

Cricket365
July 26, 2014

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has implored skipper Alastair Cook to resign the leadership and focus on his batting, and says he wouldn't wish Cook's predicament on his 'worst enemy'.

Cook is nearing 30 Test knocks without a century, and is under massive pressure to either score runs of give up the captaincy, with his side trailing India one nil in the current series in England.

Pietersen wrote in the <i>Telegraph</i>: "England badly miss Cook the opening batsman scoring 150 to set games up at the top of the order and, relieved of the captaincy, I don't think it is too late for him to rediscover this form.

"He could have another 10 years left but his batting requires emergency help and he needs to speak to someone away from the England set-up. He has to be honest with himself."

He then explained his own batting troubles, and how he went away from the ECB to find expert help, and suggested Cook do the same: "I had an issue with left-arm spin so went to seek advice from others.

"I spoke to Indians, the best players of spin in the world, and asked them how I could solve it. I spoke to people in the Indian Premier League, spent hours on the phone and communicated via email with coaches and players.

"In order to change and get better Cook is going to have to accept there are straight shooters out there who will tell him to his face he has a problem. In the long run they can help him."

He added: "My recommendation is that he phones someone such as Graham Ford. He would love to help because he is a giving and caring man and I know what he has done for my batting.

"Two or three years ago I was struggling with scoring hundreds and he picked out straightaway that my head was not in position."

Pietersen also felt the ECB were not taking advantage of the experience around them, in the form of the commentators like Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, and the like. He pointed out that other countries were happy to use consultants.

He said:"Cook needs people with experience of international cricket around him, which Peter Moores and Paul Farbrace lack. Look at Marvan Atapattu working with Sri Lanka, Rahul Dravid with India, Shane Warne with Australia.

"How many ex-international players have England had recently working with them? None. There is so much knowledge in English cricket going to waste.

"At the Adelaide Test match I saw Mark Taylor and Ian Healy in the Aussie dressing room during the match. Would any of our commentators have been welcomed in our dressing room? I doubt it."