Lara sees light on Cook's behalf

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.
Latest
-
News
England’s Dom Bess thinks pitch for Friday’s warm-up won’t be repeated in series
England finally took to the pitch in Hambantota for a low-key workout between Team Root and Team Buttler.
-
News
Proteas name Test squad for Pakistan tour
South Africa have named a 21-man touring party for the two-Test series in Pakistan.
-
News
Smith makes distinction between out of runs and out of form
Steve Smith put paid to the suggestion he was out of form with a fighting hundred against India.
-
News
England warm-up under way in Sri Lanka
The touring squad has returned a second round of clear Covid-19 tests following Moeen Ali’s positive result.
-
News
Jack Leach awaiting Covid vaccine news after ‘scary’ vulnerable classification
The England spinner takes medication for Crohn’s disease, leaving his immune system weakened.
-
News
Jonny Bairstow ready to tap into Jacques Kallis class during Sri Lanka tour
The England batsman is enthused about working with the Proteas great.
-
News
Heather Knight to lead England in ‘historic’ Pakistan tour
England Women will play two T20s and three ODIs in Karachi later this year.
-
News
Claire Polosak makes history as first woman to officiate a men’s Test
Claire Polosak continues to blaze a trail for women in umpiring.
-
News
Pooran insists West Indies will be a T20 World Cup threat
You would be foolish to discount the West Indies in the short format despite their poor run of late.
-
News
Andrew Balbirnie excited about Ireland’s year ahead
Ireland will play seven internationals in January, the same as the whole of 2020.