Cook happy with the draw

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England captain Alastair Cook was in a positive mood despite his team falling four wickets short of beating India in Rajkot on Sunday.

Cook believes the performance shows that England can compete against India on their own turf contrary to what many critics have said and written ahead of the tour.

The skipper was especially delighted with the efforts of England’s spinners who took 13 of the 16 wickets the tourists managed to claim.

Cook

Cook has been quoted in the Belfast Telegraph as saying: “It was a brilliant performance all round – especially from our three spinners.

“No one was talking of us having a chance in this series, but the way we played showed we’re in there.”

England put in a tough shift in the field in India’s first innings and will now be eager to rest up before the second Test gets underway in Vizag on November 17.

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Cook added: “I’m feeling jaded now, and I think the lads are.

Doing 160 overs in the dirt in the first innings is fairly brutal – it’s been hard work. I think we put everything on the line there.

“It’s disappointing we didn’t quite get over the line, but everyone can be proud of how we played. It’s probably proving to everyone else that we can play. We did a lot of very good things.”

Haseeb Hameed

Cook joked that Haseeb Hameed pushed him closer to retirement after his assured display on the fourth evening of the Test when the youngster went to a maiden Test fifty.

The skipper said: “He’s an unbelievable player.

“He was pushing me close to retirement when we walked off yesterday – a 19-year-old not only out-batted me but scored quicker and made it look easier. He certainly can play.”

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