Cook silences his critics
Alastair Cook's exuberant reaction after England beat Sri Lanka at Old Trafford showed just how much that win meant to him as England captain
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Alastair Cook's exuberant reaction after England beat Sri Lanka at Old Trafford showed just how much that win meant to him as England captain. There are moments when the game unhinges the most equable of men and Old Trafford yielded such a moment writes Patrick Collins in the Daily Mail. Especially when that captain is untried, unproven and uncertain about his ultimate role in English cricket. Like every other captain of England, Cook is permanently on trial.
His batting - in terms of both speed and productivity - has been virtually beyond reproach. And if he has been occasionally reluctant to slap down one or two examples of indiscipline within the English ranks, he has handled himself effectively. In general, Cook has faced his challenges quietly, with the air of a man who has carefully considered all of the consequences. For he knows, better than most, just how bruising those consequences can be.
Jonathan Agnew on BBC Sport writes that Cook has answered his critics in fine style. What we have learned is that Cook is capable of scoring runs when he has the responsibility of captaincy. That was the big question he had to answer, and he has done it.
He has had a fantastic series, and not just with the bat. He has shown a calm head in the field and I liked the way he felt confident, bold and flexible enough to take the batting powerplay early.
Now that Cook has proved his doubters wrong, its time for England's Test captain Andrew Strauss to do the same in the Test series against India writes Derek Pringle in the Daily Telegraph.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo