‘Comfortable’ Cook enjoying captaincy

Alastair Cook has admitted that, though he is “never going to be a Mike Brearley tactically”, he feels he is the right man to continue as captain of England’s Test team.

Cook goes into the Oval Test requiring three more victories to draw level with Michael Vaughan as the most successful England captain (in terms of the number of Tests won) in history. He is also three Tests short of equalling Mike Atherton’s record of 54 Tests as England captain.

While his reputation as a leader may never match that of Brearley – whose win percentage of 58.06% as captain is well ahead of any other England player to have led in 20 Tests or more – Cook’s team could also be on the verge of a couple of significant milestones. England lead the series against Pakistan 2-1 and, if they avoid defeat in the final Test, they will hold the trophy in all nine bilateral series against Test opposition. And, if they win the Test, they could be rated as the No. 1 Test team in the next few weeks if other results go their way.

But while Cook admitted he will discuss his future with the team management after the Oval Test, he said he is “the most comfortable” he has ever been in the role at present and that, with significant challenges looming for his side in the near future, he would be reluctant to shirk responsibility when his experience may be at its most valuable.

“At the end of every series, I’ll sit down with Trevor Bayliss and Andrew Strauss and discuss the future of the side and where we want to go,” Cook said. “We’ll discuss whether I am still the right captain for this team or if it is time to move on after this series or after India. We always now talk about that for my sanity as well.

“At the moment I’m enjoying it. The dressing room seems to be in a good place. It’s the most comfortable I’ve felt captaining a side.

“The last year or so I’ve really felt comfortable in the captaincy role and everything it brings with it on and off the field. I am really enjoying it and all those hard moments I’ve had – obviously they’re not gone – but in one sense, it would seem wrong to give it up quite yet.”

At the forefront of Cook’s mind is the prospect of seven Tests in Asia before Christmas. If England are to have any chance in India, in particular, they will not only need to draw on all the experience Cook possesses but they will need Joe Root (his obvious successor) to score heavily. Adding the …

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