Cricket Diary: Cook's cut-price captain's log

By Richard Gibson

England captain Alastair Cook spent time on the telephone garnering advice from predecessor Andrew Strauss before the current tour of India and carries a Test-specific notebook to log his thoughts.

But Cook dismissed any romantic notion of it being a hand-me-down from his old opening partner when quizzed about one of captaincy’s essential items. “No, it’s not from Straussy, it’s from WH Smith!” he smiled.

So there you go. If you fancy one of your own, pop down your local high street, and why not pick up a ‘Football Coaches Notepad’ as used by Tottenham head coach Andre Villas-Boas while you’re there? ‘The professional planning tool for all football coaches,’ will set you back £5.99 apparently.

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On the subject of football, one surprising voice of support for the England cricket team this month has been former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

Of course, a footballer showing an interest in the traditional summer game is hardly a new phenomenom. But a German footballer who earned his place in the British sporting pantheon by scoring the goal at Wembley that led to Kevin Keegan quitting his post as England manager a dozen years ago?

However, despite his background, Hamann has shown himself to be a keen supporter of Cook’s men, tweeting about all facets of the current series in India, including his opinions on who should take Ian Bell’s place – he actually went for Eoin Morgan – and willed a rearguard action in the second innings of the first Test defeat in Ahmedabad.

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It was quite a week for tailenders professing talent with the bat. Bangladesh’s 20-year-old Abul Hasan became only the second number 10 in Test history to score a hundred on debut against West Indies in Khulna.

But gaining less attention was Wellington number 11 Mark Gillespie, whose return in the first innings against Canterbury in New Zealand domestic cricket put his team-mates to shame.

Gillespie struck a ferocious 77 to resuscitate his side’s innings, having walked to the crease at 126 for nine, meaning that his score as last man was more than double the next best. The closest to him, in fact, was fellow seamer Andy McKay, who struck 33 from number 10 and shared in the 113-run last-wicket stand.

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Veteran Azhar Mahmood could be the beneficiary of compatriot Shahid Afridi’s decision to skip the Big Bash League after all.

Afridi has told the Sydney Thunder he will not be linking up with them for the second season of Australia’s domestic Twenty20 competition despite Cricket Australia persuading the Pakistan Cricket Board to renege on their blocking of the move.

The 32-year-old has opted to concentrate on regaining form in Pakistan’s equivalent tournament which has left an overseas spot open for the first few rounds of games. Mahmood, 37, recently secured his release from Kent and is intent on finishing his career by travelling the global 20-over circuit.

*Follow me on Twitter @richardgibson74


Date: 24/11/2012 14:30:34 by Richard Gibson
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