Kamlesh Barjati
Banned
- Joined
- 26 May 2011
- Messages
- 1,087
- Reaction score
- 31
Sri Lanka's former skipper Mahela Jayawardena has leapt to the defence of Alastair Cook following the questioning of his appointment as England's one-day captain.
Former England skipper Mike Atherton described Cook after taking the job as a plodder, who may come up short as a one-day skipper.
Jayawardena said the left-hander can answer his critics with a bucket-load of runs.
Writing for a website, the Sri Lankan master batsman said that as a former national captain he had some sympathy for Cook in the days leading up to the match on Tuesday.
"It is tough on a guy like that when he's getting questioned before he's even taken charge of the team, although in the end it was a good first day in the job for him. The important thing is for him to realise, going forward, is that his role in the team is not just as a captain," he wrote.
"If he gets going and scores the runs that everyone knows he can make - that is the most important thing - it will help him settle. It's early days for Cook and his team, and he needs time to find his feet," Jayawardene said.
"It's tough captaining any country, let alone England, where all your moves are going to be scrutinised day in, day out. But these are the challenges that modern-day cricketers face. Anyone in his role has to accept it as a good positive challenge, and give it a good shot," he added.
http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=16105_1309433940
Former England skipper Mike Atherton described Cook after taking the job as a plodder, who may come up short as a one-day skipper.
Jayawardena said the left-hander can answer his critics with a bucket-load of runs.
Writing for a website, the Sri Lankan master batsman said that as a former national captain he had some sympathy for Cook in the days leading up to the match on Tuesday.
"It is tough on a guy like that when he's getting questioned before he's even taken charge of the team, although in the end it was a good first day in the job for him. The important thing is for him to realise, going forward, is that his role in the team is not just as a captain," he wrote.
"If he gets going and scores the runs that everyone knows he can make - that is the most important thing - it will help him settle. It's early days for Cook and his team, and he needs time to find his feet," Jayawardene said.
"It's tough captaining any country, let alone England, where all your moves are going to be scrutinised day in, day out. But these are the challenges that modern-day cricketers face. Anyone in his role has to accept it as a good positive challenge, and give it a good shot," he added.
http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=16105_1309433940
