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Defiant Cook Sounds Out India Warning

Leeds: Alastair Cook, the England cricket team’s under-fire captain following consecutive Test series defeats, will go into the series against India this summer a determined man. And MS Dhoni’s team should take note, for the England opener appears to have a mission on his mind that extends more than just winning the five-Test contest.

Alastair Cook

“I’ve never quit on anything I’ve done. I’ve given it my all, all the time. Every 104 games I’ve played for England, I’ve left everything out there. It’s the same situation here. Until that moment somebody tells me they don’t want me to be captain, I’ll still be here,” said Cook after the Headingley loss to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Cook was criticised by the English media and certain former cricketers for being too defensive during the 5-0 Ashes debacle in Australia.

Following the drawn first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s this month, Shane Warne urged him to lead from the front and make bold decisions, not allowing coach Peter Moores to dictate terms on field. Warne used words such as “boring” and “unimaginative” to describe Cook’s defensive field settings.

And now, following Sri Lanka’s 100-run win in the second Test at Leeds, Cook has found himself a target of the local media for more defensive captaincy.

His own batting form hasn’t helped Cook, 29, stave off criticsm. He has gone 24 innings since compiling the last of his England record 25 Test hundreds, which was labelled a “recipe for resignation” by former England skipper and opener Geoffrey Boycott last week.

All this points to a dishevelled character just two weeks before the first Test at Trent Bridge starting July 9, but India have reason to be wary of Cook. The last time he was widely criticised was in 2010, when he suffered a slump at home against Bangladesh and Pakistan which prompted critics to question his place in the side.

But the management persisted with him and, famously, Cook stormed his way to 766 runs in a stunning away Ashes victory. That was followed by scores of 133, 96 and 106 in a home win over Sri Lanka, just before India landed for four Tests.

When India toured England in 2011, Cook struggled in the first two Tests – which the hosts won – but exploded in the third match at Birmingham with a career-best 294 that set up the series victory.

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