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The Surfer

The Cook and Bopara show

Guardian 's Andy Bull interviews Essex and England batsmen Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara on flipping sponsors' cars, reading books by former coaches and future English captains.

Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Duncan Fletcher is facing mounting pressure, Barbados, April 14, 2007

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Guardian's Andy Bull interviews Essex and England batsmen Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara on flipping sponsors' cars, reading books by former coaches and future English captains.
I ask Ravi whether anyone has nicknamed Cook FEC yet, as they once did Mike Atherton. Before he can answer, Cook turns to him and says: "I bet you don't know what that means." Bopara laughs and admits he doesn't, but after a quick explanation (the initials stand for Future England Captain, or at least that was the polite version) he reveals that yes, he often gets asked that question. "I've heard rumours at dos and things. People often ask 'who do you think will be the next England captain, Alastair Cook?' and I'm like yeahhhh, maybe. He's a good candidate." Cook leans over and deadpans "I wouldn't pick you if I was".

Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo