The latest comments from Geoff Boycott criticising Alastair Cook for daring to point out the stupidity of, incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chief, Colin Grave's remarks calling the West Indies "mediocre" need to be rebutted. To quote Tony Cozier, it was "denigrating disrespect", enough to provoke retaliation on the field, much as Tony Greig's infamous "grovel" taunt did to Clive Lloyd's team in 1976." I for one admire Cook for speaking truth to cricketing power.
As others have pointed out elsewhere, Graves has form when it comes to silly cricketing comments; four day tests "with Thursday and Friday being corporate days and then Saturday and Sunday the family days", a franchised T20 based on the Australian Big Bash and IPL not to mention indicating that he would like to see Kevin Pietersen return to the England side. Just think what that would do to team morale! Pietersen's book, unfairly in the majority of cases, criticised in a very personal way most of the players and coaches in the England set up. Even Michael Vaughan, another Yorkshire critic of Cook and supporter of Pietersen, appears to have had doubts about the future direction of the ECB, having ruled himself out becoming England’s director of cricket.
Unlike Pietersen and his egotistical supporters, Cook has faced difficult times and unfair snide comments from a populist press with resilience and dignity. He has the support of fair minded cricket supporters. (Note the ovations from the crowd when he just failed to make a hundred and scored one in the most recent Test Match.) He deserves to receive support from Essex supporters and members of this forum. I am rather tired of blunt talking yorkies who seem to think they own our national game.
We do not need Colin Graves' pointless Inquiry. We know already that England are a young team and that some senior players have not been at their best. There is need for an opener to partner Cook, a truly fast bowler and a proper spin bowler. (I know it is a waste of time arguing for a specialist wicket keeper but I doubt that James Foster would have fluffed stumping Blackwood when he charged at Root) If the ECB is to take action it should sack Graves, who is an accident waiting to happen, not a Captain and player who has and will continue to serve his country well.
