Cook calm ahead of double challenge

21 April 2015 03:31

England resume hostilities with the West Indies when the second Test begins on Tuesday, with captain Alastair Cook looking to end two long droughts.

Cook is a man with plenty on his mind as he aims to score a first Test hundred in two years and lead the side to an away victory for the first time since Kolkata in December 2012.

The pitch in Grenada, which is expected to be batsman-friendly if not quite to the same extent as last week's track in Antigua, could prove helpful in one regard and frustrating in the other.

The best chance of achieving both goals would involve batting first at the National Stadium, placing Cook and his likely opening partner Jonathan Trott straight into the firing line.

But, speaking on the eve of the match, the 30-year-old skipper seemed in relaxed mood.

He may have only scored 24 runs in two innings during the first Test - 20 more than Trott, it must be said - and not reached three figures for 33 innings, but Cook is confident he is heading in the right direction.

The left-hander has three scores of 70 or more in his last four Test appearances and is happy with how his method stacks up compared to earlier in his career.

"I did have a look back in early February and watched a little a bit of it. It has changed quite a lot," he said.

"It's evolutionary, isn't it? If you tried to go back to exactly what you did it would probably be really unnatural.

"You're always constantly trying to tinker with technique. But the most important thing is that when you're out in the middle you're not concentrating too much on technique, you're concentrating on what is important: that ball coming down to you in the situation and conditions you're in.

"I'd like to think my game has improved over time. I definitely believe it has - it's just different.

"But I'm desperate to set the tone well at the top of the order. It's always important, every time you play for England.

"As a top-order batter it's great to score runs and help England win."

England cannot triumph if they do not take all 20 West Indian wickets - a task that proved beyond them at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

New plans will have been debated and drafted by England as they look to find penetration on pitches that resist it, and applying them is a challenge Cook is looking forward to.

"As captain that's why it's such a good job for a lot of the time," he said.

"You have to think on your feet. At times you have to be proactive and at others you have to sit in. You have to do different things."

Cook will welcome back spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali, fit again after abdominal problems, with James Tredwell the most obvious casualty.

The West Indies, meanwhile, will wheel out leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo for the first time in three years after a stunning streak of 37 wickets in Guyana's last five first-class games.

Source: PA