Cook: My wife convinced me not to quit

Cricket365
August 18, 2014

England captain Alastair Cook has revealed that he considered giving up the captaincy early in the series against India, but his wife, Alice, convinced him to stick it out, to a great end result.

England recovered from being one down after two Tests to win the series three-one, with Cook coring three half centuries in four innings. After the loss at Lord's calls had been very loud for him to give up the leadership and focus on his batting.

A chatty Cook told <i>BBC Test Match Special</i> after the match at The Oval, which England won within three days: "Without my wife, I don't think I'd be standing here as captain.

"You don't often say things like that – I don't know why I just have – but it's the way I feel.

"You can bare your soul quite often to Alice and she's very good at getting me back on the straight and narrow.

"That fourth night at Headingley was a tough place because we had let a winning position slip. Lord's was also very tough – the way we lost there in conditions that were suited to us.

"But I'm quite stubborn – I believe in my ability. I stuck in there through the tough times. Sport tests your character and to bounce back as a team is testament to our character."

Cook then said he never gave up hope that their fortunes would turn around after Lord's, and he felt his continued faith in the side paid off, even though he was surprised at how easily they won in the end.

The skipper continued: "I remember saying when we were 1-0 down that I still thought we were going to win the series.

"I had a lot of confidence in the talent and skill we had in the dressing room but I didn't think we'd win quite as emphatically as we have done.

"English cricket needed a series win and to deliver like we have delivered puts a big smile on our face. The bowlers all took wickets and almost all the batters scored runs, so it's almost the perfect game.

"We haven't felt like this for a long time. We were laughing out there. You don't get many days like that. We have to enjoy it and hope it's the start of a long road back."