I was about to call this blog 'Cook has to go' but then I read the Cricinfo headline which indicated the decision had already been made. A lotn of vitriol has been tossed in the England captain's direction but I don't blame him for standing his ground. A class act in Test cricket, he has recovered from a slump in form before and was confident that he could do so again in the 50-over stuff. Sadly that confidence hasn't translated into action.
The quotes and messages had become more open and vague in the past week, once England succumbed to Sri Lanka so meekly, but I kinda hoped Alastair would wake up, smell the coffee and stand down of his own volition. Maybe Paul Downton had dug himself too deep a hole but the anti-Cook bandwagon had proved unstoppable.
The Essex man must realise that his position as opener was untenable and therefore so was his retention of the captain's role. England need someone who can keep his head and hit Powerplay runs, often against spin which has often caused his undoing. Gary Ballance probably ought to come into the side, with Alex Hales tested as Moeen Ali's opening partner.
Joe Root and James Taylor should be guaranteed middle-order slots for the World Cup, no question. Where there is a problem is on who takes Cook's place as skipper? Unlike football, the captain has to do more than call heads or tails and shout a bit. However in this day and age he has to be worth his place as a cricketer, be it with bat, ball or both. Eoin Morgan's aggregate of 90 runs in the 7 ODIs this winter is atrocious. Without the 62 in match 4 in Colombo, he would be above Cook in line for the axe. Yet the calm Irishman seems to lead a charmed life.
I'd give the captaincy to Root and give Morgan the boot. If not Root, then be brave an pick Taylor, a successful leader of the Lions. I'd rather have Ian Bell in the side. At least he is a reliable run-maker, albeit in a more conventional mould. His ODI average us similar to Morgan's and strike rate not far short.
However skipping a generation is not in an England selector's DNA. Root could be a Steve Smith. Why not? Get in-form players, forge a united dressing room and be a force to be reckoned with in Australia. All we need now is some good bowlers......
