Vaughan tells ‘bitter’ Cook to let WC episode go

England

Former England captain Michael Vaughan says current Test skipper Alastair Cook must stop being bitter about being left out of the World Cup squad and concentrate on scoring runs on the upcoming tour to the West Indies.

Cook came out publicly this past week and criticised the England Cricket Board for dropping him just before the team's departure to the global event which is currently being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The England Test captain also questioned the leadership of the side at the tournament, saying "real leadership" was needed after the first two matches against Australia and New Zealand, both heavy defeats.

Although England embarrassingly came home after the group stages of the World Cup, Vaughan has urged Cook to put the episode behind him and move on, as they need him to be in prime form for the Ashes series in July and August.

Vaughan is quoted as saying by Sportal: "I don't think it’s great that the captain comes out and criticises the leadership of the captain that takes over – but he's clearly bitter.

"He's got to clear that out of his head, because it’s so important that by the time he gets to the West Indies, England need him scoring runs.

"He has to score runs in the Caribbean. He has to get runs against New Zealand – so by the time the Ashes arrive in July, no-one is talking about Alastair Cook's position in the Test team.

"He hasn't scored a hundred in any format of the game for two years. That has to change in the West Indies."

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