Daniel Craig, barbecues and a sad day's lambing... a Cook interview for the ages

Last year, The Cricketer's HUW TURBERVILL sat down with Alastair Cook for one of the more peculiar interviews of the England legend's career. On the day his retirement was announced, we drag up an unheralded classic from the archives...

Do you enjoy being captained by others or, like me, do you have to be in charge?

I don’t mind… either.

Did you crave captaincy from an early age, or did it just happen?

I didn’t crave to become captain, it kind of just happened.

What’s Joe Root going to be like as captain?

Good.

What kind of style of captaincy will he have?

He will be different.

Can you elaborate?

You said you wanted short answers to short questions!

No, I said I was going to ask you short questions…

I actually don’t know what type of captain someone’s going to be. I remember when I took over as captain, in my first six months in charge everyone kept asking me that question, and it was very hard to give an answer, and then people started writing what they wanted anyway so it’s very hard to shift that perception. Rooty will just be Rooty. One thing he has got is an excellent cricket brain. He also has a good network around him, in terms of family and friends; a cricket-mad family. He will do an excellent job.

Are you worried he is going to send you out in front of Bay 13 at the MCG?

Hopefully my (close) catching is still good enough!

When people ask you if you are going to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 Test runs, how do you answer?

I don’t think I do, I just give a bit of a laugh, and walk off. I think it’s a long way away, and I’m not sure it’s possible.

You are not ruling it out, though?

[Laughs] It’s a hard thing to say! It’s an incredible feat to score that many runs and it’s very unlikely it will be broken.

What are your favourite memories of your Test captaincy?

Winning in India in my first series, and the Ashes in 2013 and 2015.

And the worst one?

Losing 5-0 [In Australia 2013/14]. Yep, losing 5-0.

What did you learn from Derek Randall at Bedford School?

To really love the game of cricket. I have never met a man who loves the game more than him, and actually you are there to enjoy the game.

What is your favourite film?

Layer Cake.

Did you watch that and think Daniel Craig is the next James Bond?

Umm, no, not really, I just watched the film.

Are you a Bond fan?

Yes.

What’s your favourite?

I don’t have a particular favourite, I just like James Bond.

Who would you choose to bat for your life for a day?

Where would they play?

Errr… Chelmsford.

Nick Browne.

Nick Browne?

Well, you said at Chelmsford…

Well, it didn’t have to be an Essex player… You like Nick Browne’s obduracy?

No, I don’t think he is like that. He is just a very fine cricketer.

I think Allan Border…

That’s fine, you can pick him!

Ha, I’m not being interviewed, though…

How do you think Test cricket will change in the next five years?

Good question. I don’t know. Certainly it’s the main talking point in cricket. To ensure its ongoing popularity with franchise cricket taking off, some major questions have to be asked.

What’s your prediction for next winter’s Ashes?

It will be a close series.

You are not going to do a Glenn McGrath?

No, I’m not sure that’s me.

Do you fear for Essex with the city T20 coming?

No, because there’s no reason why Essex can’t be one of those… Chelmsford can have a team.

Do you fancy being in that team?

It’s a long time away… three whole years. A lot can happen in that time.

What’s your favourite curry?

A bhuna.

Chicken, lamb or prawn?

Don’t mind. I do have a prawn curry sometimes. I do enjoy butter chicken in India. Can’t beat that. And a bit of nan bread, and some chicken tikka.

What will you do after playing?

Farming and cricket.

Have you had lambing season?

We are halfway through. For the last three or four weeks I haven’t done much as I have been back at Essex, but I did a lot in February.

How’s it going?

Not bad thank you.

Any sad mornings?

What do you mean?

Losing lambs?

Unfortunately you do lose the odd lamb, which is never ideal.

Can you cook?

Yes.

What’s your best dish?

I have a few.

Can you name one?

I’m very good on the barbecue.

The Cricketer had an evening with Graham Gooch and he seemed very sad that he’s no longer your coach. Is there any chance of a rapprochement?

Goochie and I are getting on very well. He will always be my mentor and be on the other end of a phone.

Are you looking forward to facing James Anderson at Chelmsford on Friday?

Hopefully he’s fit and that’s good for English cricket. It is always a good contest, but the advantage is always in the bowler’s favour: It only takes one good ball!

Final question, you don’t sweat that much when you are batting. How much money do you think you have saved on antiperspirants over your career?

Not much. I would like to say it’s my fitness, but if I am running on a treadmill, I sweat quite a lot. If it’s hot, I do sweat, but not a lot, and that’s quite an advantage, because you don’t have to worry about changing gloves too much.

Alastair Cook was speaking during NatWest CricketForce at Copdock CC. NatWest CricketForce has grown into one of the largest sports volunteering initiatives in the UK, with over 2,200 local clubs registering this year. Find out more at natwest.com/cricket