Atherton: Does Cook have a scrambled brain?

Former skipper Mike Atherton conceded England captain Alastair Cook is not leading by example in shot selection during the ongoing Ashes series in Australia.
Former skipper Mike Atherton conceded England captain Alastair Cook is not leading by example in shot selection during the ongoing Ashes series in Australia.
Bowled by seamer Mitchell Johnson in the first innings, Cook perished on the pull shot to the same bowler in the second, as the tourists slipped to 172 all out and 247 for six in reply to the hosts's twin declarations of 570 for nine and 132 for three in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
"The worry is the shot that Cook played. He is usually so unflappable, so calm and normally so clear-thinking at the crease. Here you've got a situation where he's played a poor shot to a short, fast ball from Johnson. He wasn't in control of the shot," Atherton told <i>Sky Sports</i>.
"Is it the shot of a man with a scrambled brain? Is it the shot of a captain who is under serious pressure? You don't know, really; you're trying to get inside the man's head. It is certainly not a Cook-like dismissal.
"He is normally very hard to prise out. He's been a rock for England for a number of years now so it's a worry if he's starting to make mistakes so early on in the series."
Erstwhile all-rounder Ian Botham, meanwhile, lauded a steely half-century from batsman Joe Root. The talented right-hander compiled a defiant 87 to push the fixture into a fifth day.
"I thought Joe Root played exceptionally well. He hung in there. There was talk about whether he should bat at three or five but I thought he played very well with Kevin Pietersen; it was almost like the big daddy looking after his son out there," added Botham.
"Root was unlucky to get out the way he did. It was good to see Pietersen play well and play within himself and try to build a big innings, which is not the way Kevin likes to play. He likes to dominate but today he realised that he had to work hard and he did."
Latest
-
News
Dom Sibley to return to Surrey from Warwickshire at end of the season
Sibley has played all of his 22 Tests since joining the Bears.
-
News
James Anderson returns for England’s Test against India
Sam Billings also comes in as Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton miss out on the Edgbaston contest.
-
News
England name Sam Billings and James Anderson in XI for Test against India
Billings was drafted in at short notice for his second Test appearance against New Zealand last week as a Covid substitute for Ben Foakes.
-
News
Temporary stand collapses ahead of second day between Sri Lanka and Australia
Cricket Australia confirmed no one was underneath the small makeshift seating area.
-
News
Ali Orr helps Sussex to five-wicket win over Derbyshire
The 21-year-old opener was helped by partners Tom Alsop and Mohammad Rizwan.
-
England
Issy Wong living the dream as late wickets boost England against South Africa
The 20-year-old fast bowler made an impact on a rain-affected day three at Taunton.
-
England
England frustrated by the weather on third day of South Africa Test
South Africa were 51 for three at the close of play.
-
England
Issy Wong’s late double keeps England in control at Taunton
.England were rewarded for their patience during a lengthy rain delay.
-
England
James Anderson: England’s new-found confidence unlike anything I’ve seen before
Anderson first played for his country in 2002 and has lived through more than his fair share of new eras, reboots and fresh starts.
-
England
England paceman James Anderson keen to prove fitness ahead of India Test
The 39-year-old sat out the final match against New Zealand at Headingley due to concerns over his left ankle but says it now feels “pretty good”.