The curious case of Sir Alastair Cook and Essex

NICK HOWSON AT CHELMSFORD: The ex-England captain is struggling for form after giving up international cricket in 2018 - but why?

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Chelmsford: Essex 293, Gloucestershire 294-6 - Gloucestershire won by four wickets

Scorecard

Don't say Chelmsford doesn't deliver the goods. On the evening of May 31, The County Ground will host a Whitney Houston tribute act. Tickets can be purchased from £12, with a 90-minute medley of "fan favourites" promised.

"I Will Always Love You" is likely to be among the most sought-after hits on that particular evening, a ballad originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton. But a version of the real thing will no doubt be welcomed with open arms, with many paying customers none-the-wiser.

Alastair Cook might yet be the cricketing equivalent at Essex. Sure, after 16 years with the home county and over a decade as a staple of the England team he is worshipped in these parts and remains the headline act. But, unable to hit the right notes, the clamour for this particular encore is starting to evaporate.

Having completed a fairytale end to his international career with that memory century at The Oval against India, Cook was set to lay-siege on county cricket. A three-year deal was agreed and having gone close to retaining their title from 2017, it was perceived that the 34-year-old could deliver further honours. Success was seen as a given.

Perversely, in 12 innings 'chef' has merely continued the run of form which led to him calling time on his England jaunt. In 12 innings in the County Championship and One-Day Cup, Cook has failed to score more than 53 and finished with 18 or less on eight occasions.

Typically during his international career, signs of Cook at his virtuoso best would come in the form of runs off his hips and legs, solidity in defence and a ruthless square cut. However, every run has been a struggle on his full return to county cricket. A century akin to the one struck last September seems more unlikely as ever.

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Cook has looked loose at the crease

It would not come in Essex's final One-Day Cup game of the season, as following a stodgy 18 he was run-out by Graeme van Buuren at the non-strikers end after being called through by centurion Varun Chopra. Though ultimately blameless for the dismissal, it was a fitting end to another underwhelming innings.

The tragic end was met with disdain in the members' area at Chelmsford. One particularly dedicated fan, who I am warned not to speak to under any circumstances, takes off his hat and smashes it repeatedly into his scorecard. Such reactions are regular occurrences and are a reflection of Cook's fortunes. There is a general feeling of discontent across the board.

Though poor technique could be identified as the reason behind the problems, perhaps something else is at play. Few batsmen leave the middle in a jovial mood, but Cook's is disconsolate rather than angry, resigned as opposed to infuriated.

Cook was the first to accept during his England career that he did not possess natural talent in abundance, with the focus instead of working hard on his game and squeezing every sinew from his existing skill-set. The approach produced 12,572 test runs and 33 centuries.

He would have been forgiven for thinking that his tried-and-tested tactic would be enough to ensure a seamless return to this level. But has complacency set in? The forlorn figure he has cut this season at Chelmsford, often playing in front of fewer than the 1,500 who attended today's dayer-nighter, and elsewhere suggests otherwise.

There is something about his struggles which are aptly reminiscent of Wally Hammond - son of opponents Gloucestershire - who struggled desperately after resuming his career following the war.

You must consider how much Cook's commitment until the end of the 2021 campaign was influenced by wanting to give something back to the county he has been associated with since 2003. Always honest with his own form, he would be forgiven for wanting to repay Essex's commitment over the last two decades.

The Eagles constantly indulged Cook when he needed time in the middle and his close relationship with the coaching set-up ensures he remains a popular figure, despite his fleeting outings for the county.

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Cook has cut a dejected figure

Cook proved through his Test career that he could grind out a score when his team needed it. He could yet flourish during the next sector of the season until the T20 Blast takes hold from July. Thanks to their 50-over struggles, Essex now have eight County Championship matches across the next 11-and-a-half weeks; ample opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.

But even he must be wondering whether this season could be his last in the spotlight. Essex are not without young pretenders ready to step into the breach in the form of Feroze Kyushu and Rishi Patel, and Cook will be as aware as anyone that having come through the academy himself he will not want to clog up the system.

There is little doubt he has much to offer behind the scenes and coach Anthony McGrath will not want to lose him one way or another. But it remains to be seen if it is exclusively as a player.

Thanks to a poor List A campaign, Cook's exposure to the white ball is over. Gloucestershire may have chased down their target with seven balls to spare - they are also licking their wounds after being beaten into the top three by Hampshire, Middlesex and Somerset - but the four-day format should provide a great insight into his long-term prospects.

After a Whitney replica leaves Chelmsford at the end of the month, Michael Buble, Freddie Mercury and Neil Diamond impersonators are set to follow through to November. Eagles fans will be hoping that is a last of the imposters.

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Comments

Posted by David Rimmer on 08/05/2019 at 22:35

Sir Alastair Cook is not the first ex-England player to struggle (initially at least) at county level after stepping down from the international arena. Success is never a given particularly for a specialist batsman _ one mistake and an innings ends. A lot of people do not seem to understand that basic but IMPORTANT fact. The wickets are also not so good at county level and this can play a part though I do not know if this applies to sir Alastair Cook. The county programme is also very fragmented with the switch in formats so it is difficult for a player to sustain form.

Posted by jennyah46 on 08/05/2019 at 12:16

Cook certainly looked a bit weird and unrecognisable in that top photo. I’m very surprised. What on Earth ails him? Thank goodness he retired from International cricket. His struggles became uncomfortable to watch, and I’m his biggest fan.

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