I normally shy away from awarding my Player of the Week award to the same person twice in a season, but Alastair Cook's marathon innings simply cannot be ignored. Nevertheless, he faced some strong opposition this week.
In southern Africa, Zimbabwe continued to look the part against a lacklustre Bangladeshi team. In two ODIs, they made short work of Shakib's side, with Brian Vetori taking five cheap wickets in both games and Vusi Sabanda making bucketfuls of runs. In Sri Lanka, it's been a good week for Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mitch Johnson and the whole Aussie team in their ODI series.
Domestically, Darren Stevens has been at it again, taking a career-best match aggregate off 11-70 in Kent's Championship demolition of Surrey. In the same match, his skipper Rob Key produced one of his grittier performances, carrying his bat for 102, but as it turned out Stevens and James Tredwell made that century less important by skittling out the visitors for 104. Wes Durston and Martin Guptill made excellent centuries for Derbyshire and Dmitri Mascarenhas took 6 wickets to give Hampshire their first Championship win of the season against leaders Durham in a game reduced to one innings apiece by rain and forfeited innings. In the Division Two top-of-the-table clash, more than 200 runs for Chris Rogers of Middlesex ensured Northants didn't extend their lead.
In the CB40 ties, 718 runs were scored at Horsham, the majority made by the home side. Ed Joyce and Joe Gatting shared a club-best opening stand of 210, then Worcestershire's Moeen Ali made an decent fist of chasing 400 to win, crashing 20 fours and seven sixes in a score of 158, but his team mates couldn't provide enough support. Martin Guptill struck another century for Derbyshire against Yorkshire and on any other week, the New Zealander would have taken my Player of the Week award.
However, the England opener nicks it for his mammoth 294 against poor India. It was only the second longest England innings in Test history and one of the highest scores. He should not apologise for being irritated at missing out on a 'triple' although I appreciated his rueful grin as he left the pitch. Others may have been cursing and swishing their bat in frustration.
That sums up Cook very well. A seemingly quiet, patient bloke who bats in the same style. If you don't need to whack the ball to the boundary, then don't. Save the aggressive strokes for the bad balls. The nudges, flicks and carves for ones and twos are just as damaging to the bowling side.
Alastair's Test average briefly topped 50 before his dismissal at Edgbaston, putting him right up there with the Pontings, Tendulkars and Jayawardenes of this world. However, unlike that brilliant trio, Cook is only 26 and on the rise. His Ashes and summer runs have elevated him to no.3 in the world rankings, pushing poor Sachin down to fourth, and he has the temperament not to sit back and wallow in his new-found fame. That's not the Essex way! I certainly wouldn't bet against him taking another Player of the Week award before the year is out.
