Monty Panesar is expected to come in as a replacement for retired spinner Graeme Swann for the fourth Test match to be played in Melbourne. PHOTO: AFP
The fourth match of the series, which will start on Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, is the perfect stage for Cook to work towards ending what has been a miserable series on a high. England side is already 0-3 down in the five-test series after heavy defeats in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
England’s captain, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Wednesday, will be forced to reshuffle his bowling attack following spearhead spinner Graeme Swann’s departure on Sunday but is looking for positives ahead of the Test.
“Losing the Ashes and with Swannie going as well, it has been a different week,” Cook told reporters in Melbourne. “When you lose games of cricket, naturally your confidence does slip.”
Monty Panesar is expected to come in for Swann while pace bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad are battling against a loss of form and a foot injury respectively. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior could also miss out due to a poor run of form with the bat and recent problems with the gloves but Cook insists whoever lines up for England in Melbourne will be united in their quest for redemption.
“We’re desperate to turn it around and you don’t often get the chance to play a Boxing Day Test match at the MCG, which, reportedly, is going to be pretty much sold out for the first day,” the left-handed opener added.
The Australian side, however, are planning for an all-out assault in the tie. “Now that we’re starting to win again, it would be silly to take our foot off the gas.” Captain Clarke stated ahead of the Test.
Cook says Swann’s remarks ‘not aimed at England’
Meanwhile, Cook informed Swann had assured him that controversial remarks about player arrogance were not directed at his teammates.
Swann stunned the cricket world with his announcement that he was resigning immediately from the England team midway through the Ashes series.
He stoked tensions by saying some players had “no idea how far up their own backsides they are”. But Swann has since denied that and Cook said he had insisted it was not the case.
For Swann, telling Cook he is retiring was not the easiest thing.
“He is one of my best mates so it should have been a very easy conversation but it actually made it doubly hard, just to sit down over a coffee and blurt it out,” said Swann. “It was like one of his team talks, it didn’t make any sense. But I got it out in the end.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2013.
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