Alastair Cook backs struggling Paul Collingwood
England’s in-form opener Alastair Cook has backed struggling middle-order batsman Paul Collingwood, as the tourists bid to retain the Ashes with a win in the fourth Test starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day.
Cook, who has already hit a double ton, a big century and a half-century in the opening three matches of the series, said that although Collingwood has endured a wretched run of late had the ability to bounce back in the last two Tests.
The right-handed Collingwood, who had a tough summer against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 where he was found wanting against the seam and swing of the suspended duo of Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, has carried his dismal form into the biggest Test series
of them all. He has averaged a mere 16 in his five innings so far, and would be lucky to hold onto his place for Melbourne, especially in the presence of Eoin Morgan who is waiting in the wings.
Cook told reporters, "I think we all know that when his back is right against the wall that's when he plays his best cricket. That hundred against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 at Edgbaston was brilliant. It was one of the best hundreds I've ever seen in
those conditions. When the going has got tough over the last 12 months, and when we've been desperately trying to save a draw, Colly's the guy who you want and has been out there."
Cook faced similar problems in the series against Pakistan, and the preceding two Test matches against the minnows of Test cricket, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747. The gutsy left hander then gave some of the best performances of his career by smashing three
hundreds in the next four Tests, starting with a ton in the third test against Pakistan at the Oval. However he saved his best for the old enemy, as he raced to 450 runs in his first three innings of the series, including a career-best 235 not out in Brisbane.
Cook had more words of encouragement for Collingwood saying that he believed the Twenty20 captain had the ability to score a big ton, and end his poor run of form. Cook said, "I had it (poor form) last summer, so we all know what Colly's
going through. But he looks confident when he's training, he seems in good spirits and he's been there a number of times before, so he knows how to come out of it and I'm sure he will."
For Cook and the rest of the English batting line-up the challenge will be to regain their confidence and form, which saw them post consecutive totals of 517 for one declared, and 620 for four declared at the Gabba and in Adelaide.
The Poms were shot out for scores of 187 and 123 on the bouncy WACA wicket at Perth. Cook failed to do much in the Perth Test, as only Andrew Strauss crossed the 50 run mark against the rampaging Aussie duo of Mitchell Johnson and Ryan
Harris, who claimed 18 of the 20 wickets to fall in the Test.
Cook believes in the ability of his team, and expects them to be back to their best for the crucial Boxing Day Test.
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