1st Test: Determined Cook ready for New Zealand

England captain wants to begin ‘huge year’ with win over Kiwis.

DUNEDIN: The long shadow of back-to-back Ashes series later this year crept on to University Oval yesterday as England captain Alastair Cook went through his final media conference ahead of their first Test of 2013 against New Zealand starting today.

Cook’s side will play 15 Tests in the next 12 months, three in New Zealand, two against the same opposition in England in May, before the back-to-back Ashes series against Australia.

The unflappable Cook let a few of the questions whistle past him, preferring instead to focus on the more immediate future – the Test series against New Zealand.

“Yes, we have got a huge year and yes, it’s great to be involved in such a big year of Test cricket but as players, we have to focus on the game against New Zealand and worry about all the other stuff afterward,” said Cook.

“It’s quite exciting for us to look at what we can do with 15 Test matches. I don’t think any England side has had the opportunity to play two back-to-back Ashes series and play New Zealand as well.

“So we have the chance to do something very special if we can perform to the way we can perform, but if we don’t, we will get found out.”

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum hopes their batting lineup can deliver the goods against England.

“We have to make sure that we get the run production from our batters,” he said.

“If we can do that, then I think we’ve got a young bowling lineup which has the ability on the day with enough runs in the bank to really test the opposition.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2013.