Cook - New format, clean slate

England bid to bounce back from Test humiliation in one-dayers

Last updated: 12th February 2012  

Cook - New format, clean slate

Alastair Cook (left): set to open the batting alongside Kevin Pietersen

The Tests didn't go to plan, and we didn't play very well. But it's a new format, and the squad has introduced six new faces. It's brought a freshness and enthusiasm to the squad.

Alastair Cook
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England captain Alastair Cook has urged his side to prove they have learned from their 5-0 series whitewash in India four months ago, as they prepare for their next ODI series against Pakistan.

In fact England have lost nine of their last 10 one-dayers heading into Monday's opener against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

Cook said: "One of the things we said at the time was we tried as hard as we could and we came up quite a long way short again against India.

"There's no shame in that, but there will be a shame if we don't learn individually from that and where we need to take our game. I hope people have done that."

England began their Indian tour in October in a near-euphoric state, having just added an ODI series victory over the world champions to the 4-0 Test success which took them to the top of the International Cricket Council rankings last summer.

Current circumstances are very different, as England try to put behind them not only that 5-0 ODI drubbing in India, but also a shock 3-0 Test whitewash here against Pakistan over the past month.

"The Tests didn't go to plan, and we didn't play very well," said Cook. "But it's a new format, and the squad has introduced six new faces. It's brought a freshness and enthusiasm to the squad."

Another area of optimism for Cook is his new opening partnership with Kevin Pietersen, following the latter's return to the top of the order.

Pietersen first tried his luck opening at last year's World Cup, and the signs were encouraging but far from conclusive until he had to fly home with a hernia injury.

It is more than three years since Pietersen made the last of his seven ODI hundreds, but Cook was impressed by his latest attempt at opening in Friday's victory over England Lions at the Zayed Stadium.

Challenge

"It's a new challenge for KP - he did it a little bit in India, for a couple of games at the World Cup before he got injured, and he showed signs of promise.

"He's excited about it; I'm excited about it - and when he's in full flow in the powerplay it's going to be hard to stop him.

"KP is unique in his own way and he's certainly got the class - he averages 50 in Test cricket and 40 in ODIs.

"He's a world-class player, and to make the most of those first 10 overs with two new balls you need a world-class player with a world-class technique - and he's got the power."

Cook can only hope too that England will collectively fare much better against Pakistan in 50 overs than they did over five days.

"Certainly the one-day game dictates you have to be more positive, and we're not going to have men around the bat all the time, so it changes your mentality as a batter. It frees you up, and we've got a good record against Pakistan.

"We've had success against these bowlers before in one-day cricket, so I hope we won't banish memories of what happened in the Test matches but free up a little bit and attack."

Cook's opposite number Misbah-ul-Haq remains respectful of England's potential, despite the Test whitewash and the fact his own team have won their last six ODI series and 13 of their last 14 50-over matches.

"It's a different ball game ... in one-dayers, you have flat pitches - but I still hope that my spinners do well," he said.

"England are a good side. Having lost their last series 5-0 doesn't mean that they are a bad side."

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