Graham Gooch hails Cook's determination ? Cricket News Update ...

Graham Gooch hails Cook?s determination ? Cricket News Update

England?s batting coach Graham Gooch has hailed skipper Alastair Cook?s performance in the Ahmedabad Test against India, where he scored a hard fought century that went in vain as the hosts won the match by nine wickets.

After being rolled over for just 191 in reply to India?s first inning?s total of 521 for 8 (declared), the Poms were forced to follow on. Cook, who was the second-highest run scorer in the first innings with 41 runs, led his side from the front with the bat in the second innings, playing an impressive knock of 176 runs.

On the course, the Essex left-hander shared a 157-run stand with wicketkeeper batsman Matt Prior (91) to make India sweat at day end on Sunday, as the tourists ended the fourth day of the first Test on 340 for 5, with Cook not out on 168 and Matt Prior unbeaten on 84.

However, Ojha removed the settled duo quite early on the final day to help his side restrict the Poms to just 406, setting a target of 77 runs to win for India. The hosts chased down the paltry total quite comfortably in 15.3 overs, at the cost of just one wicket, of Sehwag (25).

Though the visitors failed to win the match, Alastair Cook?s innings showed his teammates that spin could be countered in India if the batsmen read the situation rather than playing rash shots, employed by the majority of the English batsmen in Motera.

Gooch, the leading run-scorer in England Test history,??described Cook?s rearguard innings against Dhoni and Co. as "as good an innings as I've seen him play", and described the left-hander as "one of the best players in the world".

"Alastair led from the front as captain. [It was] as good an innings as I've seen him play," the former England great said of the skipper

"He was under great pressure after a poor first-innings performance from the team ... He crafted a century (on day four). It wasn't a flamboyant innings - he did the job that was necessary."

"That will do him the world of good to put that score on the board, showing what he is capable of and what this team is capable of," the former Essex veteran added further.

The second Test between India and England starts in Mumbai on November 23.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Graham-Gooch-hails-Cooks-determination-Cricket-News-Update-a202349

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