Lara sees light on Cook's behalf

England

Former West Indies skipper Brian Lara has thrown support behind England captain Alastair Cook, who has been retained despite a slew of poor results – and lack of substantial contributions with the bat – recently.

Former West Indies skipper Brian Lara has thrown support behind England captain Alastair Cook, who has been retained despite a slew of poor results – and lack of substantial contributions with the bat – recently.

The English have slumped to Test series defeats to Australia and Sri Lanka this year. Cook, meanwhile, has not scored a century in two dozen innings – and was particularly unimpressive against the Sri Lankans last month.

"Cook has got to buckle down. It's not always easy as a captain if you have not got older heads in the team to call on but he's got the opportunity with a younger group to see if he can take them in the way that he wants to," Lara told <i>Sky Sports News</i>.

"People are very vicious at times if you get one or two bad results, the media are on top of you so I expect him to come into his own soon. He is a bright guy, he will get it right."

Lara played for the Marylebone Cricket Club against the Rest of the World XI in a limited-overs showpiece in London on Saturday. The fixture was organised to commemorate the bicentenary of Lord's.

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