There is absolutely no doubt that Alastair Cook is one of the greatest batsman ever to step into the crease for England. He has proven time and time again that he can be the hero England need and a player we can count on when times get tough. However his powers appear to be rather on the wane and with England struggling down under and the Ashes slipping away we cannot afford any passengers. His last innings read more like a tail enders than one of the best batsmen in the world and with Steve Smith putting numbers on the board like there is no tomorrow, Cook’s decline is put into even sharper focus.
The question then is whether to stick or twist and with huge matches coming up both in the next couple of weeks as well as next year, the selectors need to sort out whether they want to keep the former captain in the line-up or whether to swing the axe and bring in some fresh blood.
They do not want to end up with a Wayne Rooney type situation where a historically great player limps towards the end of their career. With the World Cup looming Gareth Southgate had to make a decision but kept putting it off and eventually Rooney made it for him by retiring. If you want to read more about that and everything else related to next summers tournament make sure to check out the World cup Russia 2018 guide. There are so many great events from Football to Rugby to Cricket next year that it is hard to keep up with, which is why guides like this are so important for ensuring you have all the info. The selectors will need to decide whether Cook will be part of the team preparing to face India next summer or watching at home.
If they do dispense of Cook the question quickly becomes, who do England get in to replace him? The question differs slightly depending on if they are going to replace him for the next test in Melbourne or if he is eased out after the Ashes. If it is the former then they will need someone who can come straight in with no need to bed in and learn. Someone who can lead from the front and will be, at least to some degree, confident of facing Australia’s incredible attack. If it is the latter then England can take their time more. They can allow a younger, less experienced player to step into the void Cook will leave and work their way up towards the level required to hold down a place as an England opener in the test team. Here is a candidate for each position just in case Cook’s England career does come to a close either in the next few days or the next few months.
The Short Term option- Alex Hales
Now while it is true that Hales has not had the best time when opening the batting alongside Alastair Cook for England, the Nottinghamshire batsman has the X-factor, he has the ability to bash bowlers out of the attack and the bravado to stand up to bowlers with the pace of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood. He is cleared to play for England after the Bristol incident that has seen Ben Stokes left out in the cold and is hungry to prove himself for England. He had a very good season in country cricket averaging 47 including a score of 218. It would, of course, be a gamble putting him in to replace a player with the record and the history of Cook but if we are going to gamble then why not do it on a player who can produce the level Hales can when he is at his best. He is itching to go and may well be the best best.
The Long Term option- Nick Browne
A left handed opening batsman who plays for Essex and is known for taking his time to bed into an innings before building big scores sounds rather familiar. Browne seems the ideal heir to Cook having played alongside him for Essex. Browne was absolutely key in helping Essex to win the County Championship this season and has proved himself to be the man for the big occasion. At 26 he is still relatively young and can clearly grow and develop into an even better player than he already is. It is odd that he has not got a chance yet for England but if and when he finally does expect him to grab it with both hands.
