There are those who will always doubt the quality of his tactical game but throughout, he has led with no little dignity and strength of character.
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He gave an insight into his thought process as it was after the lengthy winter tour to India that he contemplated on taking this stand and hence informed the board of his decision.
How to rate Cook’s captaincy?
Michael Vaughan, who captained England in 51 Tests, suggested the right decision had been made. “I wish they would leave him alone”. Cook led by example to dispel any doubts over his leadership. He led his country to Ashes victories in 2013 and 2015 and also enjoyed series wins over India and South Africa.
“He’s obviously matured a lot over the last couple of years or so and there’s absolutely no reason why he won’t be one of the strong candidates for the role”.
Overturning a disastrous first Test defeat when losing by 246 runs into a 2-1 series win after victories in Mumbai and Kolkata and a draw in Nagpur. Selections were jumbled and Cook was seemingly unsure of which spinners to back and which fields to set for them as India dismantled his side four Tests in a row.
He’s been one of Alastair Cook’s harshest critics in recent years but Shane Warne has paid tribute to the outgoing England Test captain, going so far as to describe him as someone “you wouldn’t mind your daughter marrying”. “If a captain is questioning how much he has left in the tank then he is making that decision himself”.
Cook suggested during that series that the Australian’s criticism had become personal and that “something needs to be done” about the repeated attacks. Instead, he simply carried on with his job, and the dignity and integrity he displayed in those times proves the measure of the man.
Team-mates and opponents alike rushed to pay tribute to Cook on social media (ironic, given that Cook shuns it like the plague), while many pundits were gushing in their praise. With more matches leading the team than anyone, including two Ashes wins, he deserves to be seen as one of our country’s great captains.
But the writing was on the wall for the 32-year-old after a crushing 4-0 series loss in India. He is still, undoubtedly, England’s finest opener.
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Cook has never been more embattled than he was throughout his annus horriblis of 2014 – a year which started amid the fallout of Pietersen’s sacking by the European Central Bank, and finished with the captain himself being binned from the limited-overs side, only months before the 2015 World Cup, after the selectors finally twigged that strength of will alone could not atone for his lack of white-ball impetus. He went on to explain that Cook’s work ethic and balance are key to his success.
