Mohammad Amir issue the only fly in England captain Alastair Cook's soup
Opener targets victory over Sri Lanka at Lord's to seal series whitewash
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Your support makes all the difference.So rosy is life in Camp England at the moment that Alastair Cook would probably have rather dwelt on the positives than being drawn into the Mohammad Amir saga at his pre-match press conference ahead of the final Test against Sri Lanka.
Cook was forthright - life bans for everyone found guilty of match-fixing in the light of what he sees as increased episodes of late - while wanting to make clear he was happy to face Amir when the Pakistan series rolls around. Cook accepted the headlines would be coming but didn’t want to make it personal.
“If there is a deterrent of a life ban and everyone knows it then it is very black and white,” Cook said. “We need to be playing a game of cricket where when things are happening it is [real] sport. There’s 22 people, 24 if you include the umpires, and everyone is doing it to the best of their ability.
“There shouldn't be side-bets where people are profiting from altering the game of cricket. [It should be] two genuine teams rather than [people making] easy money on the side.” But the caveat: “That’s not to say Amir shouldn't come back because the rules were different then. He’s served his time.”
Amir’s impending return to Lord’s, the scene of his crime back in 2010 when he bowled no-balls for cash, is a rare fly in the soup for Cook though. England, two up on Sri Lanka with Lord’s to play, are not the finished article as they openly admit - Nick Compton needs runs, Steven Finn rhythm - but they are on an upward curve having won back-to-back series for the first time since that winter of discontent Down Under in 2013-14.
Alex Hales seems to be adapting to life at the top of the order, Joe Root is Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow is turning into a world-class operator. With Stuart Broad and James Anderson swapping the No 1 bowler in the world spot between them the ingredients are healthy. Cook had the luxury on Wednesday of naming his team a day early - as he has all series. It allows the team to persevere with Finn and Compton.
“You don't want people always looking over their shoulder, so when they get a chance, they get a good run,” Cook said - but it’s easier to say if you're winning. Compton “has got the class to get the big score” he added and of Finn said “when he clicks he is very hard to face. I’m a big fan, he takes wickets.”
England are keen to continue their ascent by registering a rare whitewash, fully aware that they have a habit of letting dead rubbers bounce from their hands. Not since they beat India 4-0 on home soil in 2011 have they won the lot and if there is a golden chance this is it.
They will need the Lord’s pitch to lend a hand and on Wednesday Cook did not sound convinced that he’d seen much that will offer the bowlers assistance but to be No 1 in the world again, their stated aim, they have to find ways.
There shouldn't be side-bets where people are profiting form altering the game of cricket. [It should be] two genuine teams rather than [people making] easy money on the side
For Cook, he has now got the 10,000-run monkey off his back. He has had a week back on the family farm where he allowed himself to reflect on his achievement - when he wasn’t weighing fat lambs in the tipping rain - “a bump back to earth” as he put it. But now he is looking forward, although catching Sachin Tendulkar at the top of the tree may be beyond him.
“Six thousand runs is a long way away,” he said. “It was set by a genius. I’m no genius but I want to play for England as long as I can. At the moment I’m really enjoying it. I’m motivated to continue, where that takes me, who knows? Privately, I have a few goals but a lot of my goals are immediate goals with this England team.”
But would he carry on without the armband when that time comes? “I can see myself playing without the captaincy,” he admitted. “Whether the guy coming in would want me around that’s a different thing. There will be a time when the captaincy gets taken off me and England want to move in a different direction. And then if I earn my place as an opener, great. If I don’t, I don’t. If the new captain wants to go in a different direction you have to respect that. I will still do it while I feel we are moving forward and I'm motivated to do it. The moment I'm not, it'll be someone else’s turn.”
England A Cook (capt), A Hales, N Compton, J Root, J Vince, J Bairstow (wkt), M Ali, C Woakes, S Broad, S Finn, J Anderson.
Sri Lanka (possible): D Karunaratne, K Silva, K Mendis (wkt), D Chandimal, A Mathews (capt),
L Thirimanne, M Siriwardana, R Herath, S Eranga, S Lakmal, N Pradeep
Umpires R Tucker (Aus) & A Dar (Pak)
Television Sky Sports 2, 10am-7pm
Weather Warm with spells of sunshine. Max temp: 22C
Series so far First Test England won by innings & 88 runs; Second Test England won by nine wickets
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