Cook doesn't want a 'passive' Anderson

Cricket365
August 6, 2014

England captain Alastair Cook has admitted that fast bowler James Anderson could sometimes be a bit too aggressive, but added he would rather have the paceman on the edge than too passive in the middle.

The ICC declined to appeal Anderson's 'not guilty' verdict, after being charged with verbally abusing and shoving India's Ravi Jadeja. While Anderson admitted he and Jadeja exchanged words, he denied the physical aspect.

As such, Cook feels the incident should be put behind the teams ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which Anderson would have been banned from if found guilty. He hoped the game would be played in the correct 'spirit'.

Cook said on Wednesday: "We know every time that you put on the shirt as an England player or any international you're a role model for young kids or anyone watching the cricket and we're aware of that.

"We also want to play competitive cricket, we don't want it to be too nicey-nicey and everyone just saying we're playing in the right spirit. There's always that muddied line.

"There's little bits where he (Anderson) might have overstepped the mark occasionally throughout his career, but you'd rather him be on the line than too passive."

The skipper then added: "The whole incident is behind us and we don't have to talk about it any more, or hopefully too much more, and we can just get on with playing cricket.

"The way both sides have played this series has been fantastic, apart from that one incident that has been blown up, both sides have been very competitive and played it in the right way and the right spirit.

"I don't think it's really affected the performance on the field at all, it's great that that's now behind him. He gets to play in a home Test match, which I know is very special for every guy that gets to play in a home Test match.

"I think that's what his biggest concern was; that he wouldn't get to play at Old Trafford."