The Surfer

Cook struggles to hit out

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In an interview to Ed Davis in cricketnirvana.com, Alastair Cook admits he struggles to "hit a cricket ball a long way" and wouldn't teach his kids the things he learnt while developing as a batsman. Cook also acknowledges the role of Graham Gooch:

Yes, if he hasn’t seen me for a while, he just makes sure I’m doing the basics right, and he’s a shoulder to cry on as much as anything. He’s seen it all before and you know even when you don’t score runs he’s been through it all. He knows what it’s like, he’s always there for that bit of reassurance as much as anything of your technique, and as a person. He’s a great man in that respect – he gives you that belief if you’re lacking it. He’s more of a friend, a friend who actually coaches.

England

Mathew Varghese is sub-editor (stats) at Cricinfo