Mark Ferguson hopes that Essex Man Alastair Cook can save England’s cricket tour of Australia.
England are on the ropes out in Australia after losing the opening two Tests of this winter’s Ashes series.
Next stop is the Waca in Perth – one of the fastest and bounciest wickets in Test cricket. Waiting to deliver the knockout blow to England is Australia’s kingpin – Mitchell Johnson, a fearsome warrior who can smell the blood of English batsmen.
The only man who can stop the Aussies is Alistair Cook of Essex County Cricket Club, captain and opening batsman for England.
The road to recovery begins in the dressing room and Cook must rally his troops before a ball is bowled. But there’s more to it than getting the team fired up. A cool head is paramount. On too many occasions England have suffered from poor shot selection and lack of concentration.
Cook’s lack of runs is a worry for England. He’ll step out at the Waca to play his hundredth Test and he must lead from the front with the bat. Before then he faces some big decisions with regard to team selection. A recall for Steven Finn is a possibility. It’s a risk, since Finn has been expensive in the past. But he is England’s paciest bowler and best option should Cook chose to play fire with fire.
History is against England. Perth first hosted an Ashes Test in 1970 and since then England have only won their once in 12 attempts, in 1978.
But Cook and his England teammates have previously shown they are capable of rewriting history. They have to believe they can do it again.