Published: Aug 11, 2015, 12:06 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 11, 2015, 12:06 PM (IST)
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has revealed that he sent a text message to his England counterpart Alastair Cook sometime last year, when the latter was facing scrutiny from almost everywhere due to his and England’s poor form. Cook captained England in their 0-5 rout in Australia in the Ashes 2013-14, and it was followed by a 0-1 loss to Sri Lanka at home in a two-Test series, which turned the heat on him. However, Cook weathered the storms and kept battling for his team to take them to a memorable Ashes 2015 win.
McCullum, wrote in his column for The Daily Mail, “Last year, when Alastair Cook was being taken to some dark places by the game of cricket, I dropped him a quick text message — just as a show of support, from one captain to another. No one who has played the game can honestly claim they haven’t been in those places themselves.” ALSO READ: Is Alastair Cook’s world any better than Michael Clarke’s?
He continued, “I’ve always admired Cook’s toughness and I get on well with him. But not all captains around the world are bosom buddies. I wanted to pass on a simple message: tough times don’t last, but tough blokes do. He responded to my message and we’ve exchanged a few since. We also bonded earlier in the summer when both our sides were trying to play an exciting brand of cricket during our drawn Test series.”
McCullum said he was delighted to see Cook garnering success after all that he had been through. “So to see him emerge from those low times and captain England to an excellent Ashes victory is a real thrill. I’m delighted for him. I’ve captained New Zealand in two Test series against Cook’s team and it’s fair to say he changed a bit in the meantime. The first series was back home in the early part of 2013 when he had only recently inherited the side built by Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower.” ALSO READ: Ashes 2015 no less than test of character for Clarke and Cook
The New Zealand captain heaped praise on England, saying Cook’s team has changed a lot in the last two years. He wrote, “There were some outstanding individuals in that team but some were nearing the end of their careers and it didn’t yet feel like Cook’s dressing-room. Captaincy is about more than taking the field with a bunch of talented cricketers.”
“But by the time we toured England earlier this summer I could see the change. He looked like he had taken on board some of the criticism that had been thrown his way, which is always a good sign in a leader, and had persuaded his team to join him for the ride. Watching him during this Ashes series, he’s gone even further. He seems content with his standing and comfortable with the style of play England have adopted. He’s quite clearly the leader – and his players are only too happy to follow,” McCullum said. ALSO READ: Alastair Cook goes past Graham Gooch: The saga of un-sexy efficiency
McCullum is of the opinion that the coaching staff does not really matters much unless the captain of the team takes a decision and supports it completely. “Some people might think it’s all down to the new coaching structure, and there’s no doubt that Paul Farbrace, who was in charge against us, and Trevor Bayliss have helped encourage England’s youngsters to play with freedom. But in my experience it’s not possible for a team to adopt a style of play unless the captain is 100 per cent behind it – and unless the team fully respects the captain. You can have all the plans in the world but it’s up to the captain to get his players to buy into a new philosophy. Otherwise, forget it,” he wrote.
The Kiwis skipper said the England skipper has also been blessed with some really good players. “Cook can take tremendous satisfaction from the way the likes of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali have adopted that positive style. It may not be a style that suits Cook himself as a batsman but that doesn’t mean you can’t deliver the message to the team. And being positive can mean a variety of things. In Cook’s case, it means following through with the cricket that feels most authentic to him.”
Talking about Cook’s personal achievements, McCullum said, “His nine-hour 162 against us at Lord’s earlier in the summer was a classic example. Stokes batted brilliantly for his hundred in that innings but without Cook’s solidity at the other end it might not have been possible. When he’s in that mood with the bat he can be a real pain in the backside. With most guys, you feel you can always stay in the game by rolling out different plans — some bouncers, a seventh-stump line or dragging him across his stumps, then aiming straight for an lbw. But Cook doesn’t bite. He’s got a great defence and just wears you down.”
“That Lord’s innings was England’s captain at his most authentic and I hope he doesn’t deviate from that as his side move forward with their brand of cricket. Captaincy is a different matter. Against Australia, Cook has looked more aggressive and more innovative than before. He’s making proactive decisions,” he continued.
McCullum expressed, “Sometimes when you’re behind in a game you have to bluff a bit to make the opposition feel under pressure. He looks like he’s willing to do that now. Sure, he’s had the bowlers and conditions to back.”
