England’s ODI victory vindicates Alastair Cook – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imtiaz-Sheikh-c64290 Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on February 13.
Cook’s leadership is frequently challenged by many, including former English skipper Ian Botham, who expressed reservations last year when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) appointed the 27-year old batsman as the ODI captain.
He later called for Cook to be replaced by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 were whitewashed 3-0 in the Test series against Pakistan, saying that the team would be sure to continue their apathetic performances in the ODI series under the captaincy of
the left-hander.
Previous losses, such as the 5-0 defeat against India in an ODI series last October, did not ease Cook’s case.
However, with England’s emphatic victory against Pakistan this Monday, the opening batsman silenced all naysayers with his impressive 137 from 142 balls, his highest one-day score to date (and the second-highest ODI score by an English batsman against Pakistan),
underpinning a healthy total of 260.
"It's always good to start off the series well, and to play close to our potential - which I don't think we've done on this tour - is really pleasing," said a noticeably relieved Cook. “It was a really good day for the side. We did need the win on tour,
and it was great to be able to contribute to it."
Commenting on the transient nature of appreciation and criticism in the cricketing world, Cook said that while he was satisfied with the current win, he had not forgotten the past losses, which were admittedly his fault.
"We all know the fickle world of cricket. In the summer when things were going really well, everyone was on your side. Then you have a bad tour... but as I've always said, as captain, you're judged by results - and we didn't play very well (in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750), and
I take responsibility.”
Aside from expressing satisfaction with his own performance (which won him the Player of the Match award), he also praised the performances of his teammates, particularly pace-man http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373 (who scored 50 runs
off 69 balls).
England will be battling it out against Pakistan in the 2nd ODI of the 4-match series at Abu Dhabi on February 15.
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