Batting coach of England, Graham Thorpe feels Alastair Cook still has the appetite for Test cricket despite being out-of-form on New Zealand shores.
The southpaw Cook got out at 14 during day three of the second Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. As a result, he has managed to score only 23 runs in the four innings, so far.
However, Cook managed to score a double century in Melbourne but failed to show consistency. This, in turn, has led speculation over his future in Test cricket.
Meanwhile, Thorpe having seen up close how hard the left-hander is working at his game in the nets believes a big score is around the corner.
“I do see a guy who is still hungry,” Thorpe told Sky Sports. “You can see that from the way he goes about his work in the nets. He’s trying some different things as well, he’s trying to positive when he goes into the nets, and I think we just saw a little bit of that today. We saw a little bit of the freedom he wants to play with,” he added.
Meanwhile, Graham Thorpe feels he is few hours at the crease from a big score.
“Unfortunately, he got a good ball and played at one outside off stump. He was out for a low score but no one is more disappointed than Alastair. Over the years we’ve come to know how he operates. We’re always saying he’s just a few hours at the crease away from a big score, so that’s the bit he has to keep in his mind as well,” Thorpe stated.
The left-arm pacer Trent Boult has dismissed Cook on all-the-four-occasions in the two-match Test series.
However, England has taken a good control of the match with a healthy lead of 231 runs. They will now look to post a huge target in front of the Black Caps and restrict them within that in a bid to level the series.
Further, here is the newsfeed:
Dean Elgar plucks a stunner to end Tim Paine’s heroics in Joburg
New Zealand Cricketer Mitchell Santner reveals his injury scars