Cook wants ‘big runs’ from England

Captain believes top order needs to set the game up in Ashes series.

PERTH: England captain Alastair Cook has said ‘big runs’ are the order of the day if they are to win a fourth successive Ashes during the upcoming series in Australia.

England may have won 3-0 in the recent home series yet they did so with their highest total being the 377 they posted in the drawn finale at The Oval.

They compensated by seizing control of matches at key moments, but conditions in Australia are unlikely to be so forgiving.

During their 3-1 series win in Australia in 2010-11, England made 517 for one to draw the first Test and in the three matches they won, all by an innings, posted first-innings scores of 620, 513 and 644.

With many of the same batsmen involved again, Cook is looking for similar results.

“Clearly top-order runs in Australia are vitally important,” said Cook. “Last time we saw that big runs make a massive difference. That’s the job of the top order to make sure we do that.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2013.

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