Cook's career fascinating

Alastair Cook has the potential to be counted among the greats like Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar, writes Sarah Crompton in the Telegraph. His career, at the age of 27, is fascinating as unlike the two greats, he lacks charisma, and his essence is only in his hard work and discipline.

He has done so in the most unromantic way. His batting is based on a calm, sweatless ability to take each ball on its merits and patiently accumulate runs. He is not a romantic figure like Tendulkar or a punchy one like Ponting. Charisma eludes him; he is a model of hard work and strict discipline.