Gooch: 'As good an innings as I've seen from the captain'
Cook played his first Test in India six years ago
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is usually impossible to grade a batsman's innings. They come in all shapes and sizes in shifting circumstances. They can win matches, they can be played to draw them, which can be every bit as important. But when Graham Gooch starts classifying it is sensible to listen and of the England captain Alastair Cook's exemplary century yesterday he had a definite opinion.
"I think that was as good an innings as I've seen him play because he was under great pressure after a poor first-innings performance from the team," said Gooch, England's batting coach and himself the scorer of 20 Test hundreds.
Until yesterday, that was Cook's total but he moved to 21 with a dogged exhibition of defensive batting in the cause of saving a match for England that had seemed lost when they trailed on the first innings by 330.
"Alastair crafted a century today," said Gooch. "It wasn't a flamboyant innings, he did the job that was necessary. It is a different skill to scoring a hundred; the boy just made it happen.
"The skill of scoring runs is being adaptable, you can't score the same way every time. You have to tailor the way you play to the conditions."
In a way the position of the match was ideal for Cook's equable temperament. He could simply bat to stay without worrying much, or at all, about accruing runs, while possessing the powers of concentration and sense of purpose to do it.
"It was great commitment from our guys and great fighting spirit," said Gooch (right). "There was belief in their own ability and Alastair led from the front as captain. He can do it because he is one of the best players in the world. It is not just physical skill I'm talking about; you need skill between the ears. This lad has had a great temperament from when he first started and came here to make his debut."
Cook played his first Test in India six years ago after being summoned from an England A tour in West Indies. Two days after arriving he opened the innings in Nagpur and made 60 and 104no. He has rarely looked back since.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments