Captain Cook

[IlfordEagle]

Unbelievable decision which I presume Cook supported if not instigated. For somebody whose form has deserted him for 18 months at least, one would have thought that some game time would have been exactly what he needed.

Maybe he didn't want his batting deterioration exposed to diluted 2nd. div. bowling attacks, thereby ensuring his continued stay in the England side until at least the end of the 2015 Ashes series when his career will undoubtably end, particularly with the deployment of the Review System.

Despite his freak couple of successful innings for ECCC at the beginning of the season, I don't think the club will noticeably miss his services. I personally would rather see Browne in the opening spot against Kent than Alastair Cook. As far as ECCC is concerned, Cook has been the epitomy of a nonentity for them.

A cheap shot, to suggest Cook is scared of 2nd division bowlers. He showed what he can do at this level at the start of the season. Why do consider them to be "freaks"?  Can't you accept them at face value?

I agree that he benefited from some umpiring decisions but he also suffered from some bad ones...these are part of cricket.

You just have to accept that we will never see much of Cook, although on this occasion I find the decision to rest him nothing short of capricious. As Jason has pointed out, his contract is with the ECB. We may not like it but it is probably the best arrangement for English cricket (whose team are far more likely to win an international competition than their footballing equivalents, where the clubs control everything)

Diatribe you really have got it in for Ally haven't you? It sounds like you have a personal grudge against him; I must admit though I'm not happy with him being unavailable for the remainder of the season when all other England players are!! Not the first time I have found a decision of Moores a bit baffling, I'd love to know his reasoning for this decision!!

[Diatribe]

Not the first time I have found a decision of Moores a bit baffling, I'd love to know his reasoning for this decision!!

That's if it was his decision, Cook hasn't been over keen to turn out for ECCC for many a yr. He's hardly in the Gooch league when it comes to patriotism, is he now, although he does grace the Chelmsford nets with his presence when not back on his farm being urged by his wife to carry on captaining despite no longer being worth his place in the team.

I notice he managed to turn out for his Upminster benefit match, no restrictions there then.

[essexfan548]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/29127151 so now we know 

I really don't like the animosity on this thread towards Alistair - he's a really nice guy and we don't pay his wages so can't complain if he's not available.

[Valentines Park]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/29127151 so now we know 

Do you think he spouts rubbish all the time?

I pity his wife if he does.

[IanS]

Why do consider them to be "freaks"?  Can't you accept them at face value?

'Freak' was probably inappropriate phraseology, uncharacteristic might be a better word if taken in context with his contributions for ECCC over the past couple of seasons and beyond.

I accept that this is your perception but it is not borne out by the figures. Cook's current first-class career batting average for Essex is 44.97. In the history of the Club, only six players (who have played 20+ matches) have achieved a better career average. Five of these were overseas players (Law, Border, Waugh, Salim Malik & Andy Flower) who were in the peak of their careers, thus inflating their averages. The other was G A Gooch.

To me, that looks like a top-class contribution from Cook.

[Valentines Park]

To me, that looks like a top-class contribution from Cook.

The bulk of that contribution was a long time ago though.

& we are supposedly mounting a promotion push.   

[IlfordEagle]

Ally certainly looked in fine form for Essex at the start of this season with 2 excellent centuries, his 181 went a long way to winning the Derby match, in 2013 he averaged nearly 40 in 2 matches, I wish Ally could turn out more for us but I welcome any time he does, for all that is said he is a class act & we should be proud of him.

[IanS]

To me, that looks like a top-class contribution from Cook.

The bulk of that contribution was a long time ago though.

& we are supposedly mounting a promotion push. 

Ah but that's a different issue. I was challenging Mr Diatribe's contention

"As far as ECCC is concerned, Cook has been the epitomy of a nonentity for them."

while you (like many of us) are bemoaning his non-availability.

[Diatribe]

while you (like many of us) are bemoaning his non-availability.

I'm not bemoaning his non-availability, Ian, if you care to peruse my posting, you will no doubt observe that I stated I would rather see Browne opening the innings than Cook.

I was also referring to Cook's earlier innings this season being uncharacteristic compared to those of the past couple of seasons, whereas you are referring to his overall career. I can't be bothered to research his average for ECCC over over the past 3 seasons, but I doubt whether it would exceed those of Westley and Mickleburg, despite his appearances being spartan to use a euphemism.

I don't personally feel the club are missing much by not having Cook available, I am of the opinion that ECCC would considerably benefit from ditching all their prima donna star players who are over rated, mostly unavailable and perhaps most poignantly, rarely deliver the goods when most needed. As previously stated, I think you will find that after the 2015 Ashes series, Cook's international career will be over and he certainly won't be playing for ECCC, He'll much more likely be storming off to his farm with his pseudo blairalike grin whilst taking his bat, ball and stumps with him.

[Andy]

...and I thought my one-eyed dislike of public schoolboy was verging on madness! Didn't Cooky sign your autograph book or return your e-mails, or late-night phone calls, or notes written with dubious looking ink, or somefink??? 

[Perov]

Comparison of Cook, Westley and Mickleburgh averages for 2011,2012, 2013 and this season:

                      2011     2012   2013    2014
Cook               45.28    5.0     39.25    77.20
Mickleburgh     26.43   22.61  41.45    25.33
Westley           29.16   34.17  39.20    30.45

[IanS]

while you (like many of us) are bemoaning his non-availability.

I'm not bemoaning his non-availability, Ian, if you care to peruse my posting, you will no doubt observe that I stated I would rather see Browne opening the innings than Cook.

Rest easy, I was replying to VP.

[Diatribe]

Comparison of Cook, Westley and Mickleburgh averages for 2011,2012, 2013 and this season:

                      2011     2012   2013    2014
Cook               45.28    5.0     39.25    77.20
Mickleburgh     26.43   22.61  41.45    25.33
Westley           29.16   34.17  39.20    30.45

So the overall averages for the seasons 2011, 2012 and 2013 in respect to Cook, Westley, Mickleburg are Cook 29.84, Westley, 34.17, Mickleburg 30.16.

My point regarding Cook's current unavailability to play for his county, regardless of whether one thinks he should be in the team or not, is that the excuse being offered of him requiring a rest is a palpable lie whereby one would require to be a genius of the highest standing to even begin to believe it.  Think about it, Cook is the only ECB contracted player who is unavailable for the current round of CC matches, why even the bowlers ,whom one would think would require more rest than batsmen, are playing for their respective counties.

Why would Cook need more rest and recuperation than any other player, he fields in the slips and does very little running around in the field, not to mention that he doesn't spend too much time at the crease these days. Players in bygone times used to play first class football as well as cricket and who could forget Gooch rushing to the Oval from the Ceylon test match in 1988 to play in the Surrey game. The only reason Cook is not available to play for ECCC is because he doesn't wish to be. After all, he managed to turn up for his Upminster benefit match, didn't he.

[Slogger]

Since the Southampton test match Cook has played in two 3 days games and 4 50 over games. He had a long break in the late winter and Spring too.

[Diatribe]

Since the Southampton test match Cook has played in two 3 days games and 4 50 over games. He had a long break in the late winter and Spring too.

Precisely and in those two 3 day games, he spent most of the time languishing on the pavilion balcony with very little occupation of the crease in the 4 x 50 over games. For the ECB and Grayson to state that Cook is fatigued and in need of a rest is an insult to the intelligence of any form of life above that of a 'Sun'reader(I use the word reader in a euphemistic context)