Alastair Cook could be forgiven the occasional moment of doubt about why he ever fell in love with cricket, as England continue beset by off-the-field intrigue.
But as he prepares his team for the first Investec Test against New Zealand at Lord's, not even the spectre of Kevin Pietersen or ongoing speculation of who will succeed the sacked Peter Moores as coach has made him question for a minute that he remains in his dream job.
Cook's future as Test captain may well depend on the outcome of this two-match series, which is a precursor to this summer's Ashes rematch against a team who trounced England 5-0 down under in 2013-14.
There is pressure, he admits. It is something he understands and accepts, though, as he tries not just to underpin an England resurgence from fifth in the world Test table but to do so with a team playing the right way to re-engage their public.
"Cricket is a great game," said Cook.
"Cricket has been my life for years and years - I have been incredibly lucky to have experienced what cricket has given to me, from playing club cricket when I was 14 . then getting picked for Essex, all those experiences.
"That's why I love the game."
He knows thousands of others still feel the same way too.
"It doesn't matter what level you play, everyone then follows the English cricket team," he said.
"They want the English cricket team to be successful, they want to bring pride to the country, that's what people want."
Cook spent much of his pre-match press conference denying emphatically, as some reports claimed, that he presented an ultimatum to England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss to either keep Pietersen in exile or get by without him instead as captain.
In the 15 months since the controversial but record-breaking batsman was sacked in the aftermath of that Ashes trouncing, Cook has often fought a losing battle on and off the pitch.
"We know that's the pressure you're under," he said.
"But it's a great pressure - the highs and lows you experience from that are fantastic.
"I absolutely understand that cricket over the last 18 months has taken a bit of a hammering, certainly from off the field stuff.
"We have had a huge change, top of the ECB, and I think only five players are playing from that last Test match in Sydney.
"There has been a big change around in the squad, and we're focusing on the here and now as players and what the future holds for us."
Cook is not only adamant that Strauss, and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, made the Pietersen decision without his input but that he is happy for his former Test captain to make those unilateral calls.
"I want it to be that way," he added.
"I have watched Straussy from the other end a hell of a lot, as an opening partnership.
"I have worked underneath him as a vice-captain.
"He is a great leader of men.
"I know he thinks about decisions a hell of a lot - it's not just an off-the-cuff decision.
"It's a decision he will have given a hell of a lot of thought to.
"So I trust him to make the right decision for English cricket."
Cook's opposite number Brendon McCullum also spoke of the importance of trust in his developing Kiwi team - one sure to push England hard in both Tests.
He said: "Guys trust you are leading them in the right direction, but that might not work in different environments.
"We know that's the best way for us."
Source: PA
