A Year of Living Charitably

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Tom Reeves spoke to England and Essex cricketer Alastair Cook about his benefit year and his troubled 12 months on the field.

Beleaguered England cricket captain Alastair Cook is putting his on-field troubles into perspective with a benefit year which includes working for a charitable foundation in memory of his first batting partner.

The England skipper began his rise to prominence at Maldon cricket club in Essex alongside close friend David Randall, who died of cancer in 2012 at just 27 years of age.

Cook, 29, explained: ‘We were really good childhood friends, and unfortunately as the way life is, one gets dealt a cruel blow and he got cancer, which unfortunately he didn’t survive.’

He selected the Randall Foundation, a charity set-up in his friend’s memory, as one of four causes to support during his benefit year.

‘The David Randall charity was a no-brainer because I’m the patron of that,’ Cook said.

It’s a small charity, he explained, which enables people with terminal illnesses to enjoy ‘final special family days.’

He continued: ‘that is one side of the charity – to enjoy the time they’ve got left. The other side is that David was a very talented sportsman and musician, so it’s like a scholarship for musicians and sports people. If they are getting hindered by financial things, we try to support them.’

Cook also spoke about the other charities he has decided to support: the Professional Cricketers’ Association Benevolent Fund, Chance to Shine, and Mind.

‘You can’t see what happens to the mind and being aware of it in cricket is important,’ he acknowledged.

‘The PCA Benevolent fund speaks for itself. Whether you have played one game or thousands of games, you are part of a community, and I’m one of the lucky ones – my health and fitness have managed to survive.’

On the Chance to Shine scheme, Cook said, ‘I firmly believe cricket shouldn’t be an elitist sport, and getting kids in state schools back playing, is important to the future of our game.’

Difficult Period

Cook was playing in a benefit game at Wanstead Cricket Club despite being ‘unavailable’ for his county, Essex, who are pushing for promotion from the LV County Championship Division Two.

‘Unfortunately you have to be a little bit selfish,’ he said. ‘And for me personally, my priorities are with England.

‘That’s what takes up all my time and the decision to not play in the final couple of games of the season is absolutely the right one.

‘I’m a pretty spent force mentally and I don’t think I could do myself justice. Looking to the future, this doesn’t mean I’m not committed to Essex, it’s just one of those things.’

The left-handed batsman has been through a lot in the past 12 months – struggling for form and faced constant speculation over his future.

‘It’s been an incredibly tough year,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve never experienced this level of pressure on me.’

He added: ‘I can’t remember an England captain, who has been asked to discuss his future as many times as I have.

‘Maybe, it’s because I haven’t been scoring runs. But I’m not the first England captain to struggle with the bat.’

‘It is what it is. I don’t want people to read this interview and think he is feeling sorry for himself because you are England captain and that is part of the territory.

‘In some ways, it’s part of the enjoyment of it all because trying to lead through adversity is probably the hardest thing you will ever do but also the most rewarding.’

Following on from last winter’s five Test whitewash in Australia, the questions over Cook’s leadership ability intensified during an unexpectedly strenuous two-match Test series against Sri Lanka at the start of the summer.

The Three Lions were denied victory in the closing moments of the first Test, with Sri Lanka’s 10th wicket pair able to see out the final five balls.

Ahead of the next game, Cook recalls ‘going into that press conference at Headingley thinking they will talk positively. We were a review away from winning and a catch that could have carried, which didn’t on a flat wicket.

‘All they did was talk about negative stuff in that press conference – also the media as a whole. It was Ian Bell’s 100th Test Match and nobody asked me a question about it. That really got me angry.’

Then, in the second innings of the second Test, England slumped to 57-5 on what Cook described as ‘one of my worst days’ before Sri Lanka sealed the series on then following day.

Cook admits he came close to quitting on that fourth night at Headingley.

‘It was probably the closest because the emotions were really raw and I was in a bad spot mentally.’

But he held on, affirming his commitment to the England team: ‘I can’t tell you how proud I am to be England captain. The honour that has been bestowed on me is incredible’.

Looking Up And Down

Next up in the 2014 summer schedule was a five-match Test series at home to India.

Things began slowly again for the hosts, who were 1-0 down after two games.

However, the third Test at the Rose Bowl proved to be a turning point for England and their skipper.

When asked why he thought things turned around at the Rose Bowl, he said: ‘I think it got to the point, where I thought it couldn’t have got any worse. I just was determined to enjoy the week.’

From then on, England won the fourth and fifth Test to win the series 3-1.

Cook smiled and commented: ‘To turn it around and say I averaged 50 in the India Test series, meant a lot and to win 3-1 was a great achievement by the guys.’

The Three Lions sealed an extraordinary series comeback with a massive victory of an innings and 244 runs over India at the Oval.

‘The Oval was such a surreal day,’ the 29-year-old mused. ‘It was kind of like playing Brian Lara Cricket, back in the olden days with your computer, because we kept getting wickets when we wanted to!’

On a high after the Test series triumph, England headed into the One-Day International (ODI) series against India in good spirits.

However, the visitors won the series 3-1.

‘It was a blow,’ the skipper conceded. ‘It was a shock how badly we played those first couple of games, if I’m being honest.’

Future Prospects

Cook’s men will head to Sri Lanka next for a seven-game ODI series, as they continue their preparation for the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

‘For the next three months, we have a really good schedule coming up. We will go to Sri Lanka, where we will play against a lot of spin and test our technique. It will be tough but our scope for improving how we play against spin will be huge.’

On his side’s chances for the World Cup, Cook said: ‘I still believe any of the top eight sides can win that World Cup.

‘You need to get on a good roll; you need people playing well at the right time – that is crucial.’

The Three Lions have made several changes to the Test team during the summer, with all-rounder Moeen Ali and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler given a chance to impress.

Cook was full of praise for the youngsters, saying: ‘I firmly believe the future for England cricket is bright.

‘I can see the likes of Joe Root, Gary Ballance and Jos Buttler leading England through in 10 years’ time. They are extraordinary talents.’

Reporter Tom Reeves poses with Alastair Cook
Reporter Tom Reeves poses with Alastair Cook

Flocks of enthusiastic junior cricketers turned up at the Wanstead club for Cook’s charity match.

‘The benefit has been incredibly well supported, and today is the prime example, you hope the kids have good fun.’

Additionally, he praised the set-up at Wanstead, which has produced four current Essex players including former England wicket-keeper James Foster and promising England Under-19 batsman Kishen Velani.

‘They have an amazing record of producing players. Hearing the list of players to have come through from Wanstead, they must be doing something right,’ he said.

‘But, at this age, it’s not about that is it? It’s about the kids having a really good day and using cricket as a social club in one way and also to develop their skills in another.

‘Are we looking at one of the next England captains out there? Who knows? But the reality is, there is an 11-year-old out there somewhere who will be England captain at some stage.’

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