Cook frustrated by new fixing revelations

Cricket365
May 19, 2014

England captain Alastair Cook says that while he's not been approached by bookies or fixers, he find the new revelations made by Lou Vincent 'frustrating' because he wants to trust his fellow professionals.

With Vincent singing like a canary to the ICC, alleging fixed matched in five countries he'd played in, including England, Cook feels the fans and honest players will start becoming disillusioned.

Cook told <i>Standard Sport</i>: "The education is good. You know the tell-tale signs but you can always do more, can't you, if it is still going on now? But it is a worry.

"I've been involved already in a high-profile game which has been changed by [corrupt practices], and it cheapens the sport. It's frustrating because you know how much hard work you've done in cricket and you trust that all the other professionals have done the same.

"Clearly, there are more and more cases that seem to be coming up now.

"It's an entertainment business. People are there to watch the cricket and they need to know that what they are watching is genuine. They need to know the players are trying their hardest, not for any financial gain off the field.

"It makes you incredibly worried. I know from how I play the game, you're trying to protect the values, the traditions and history of the game, and play it in the right way.

"When you walk on to the field, you're doing it with the best intentions at heart and to try to win the game for your team. That's why you test yourself in sport.

"I've never been exposed to it personally and I don't know how deep it goes, but it's obviously a very serious situation. People have said it's the tip of the iceberg, and if that's the case and more and more comes out, it will damage the sport."