Former Australian Skipper Steve Waugh commented on Alastair Cook’s Captaincy. He felt that Cook should try his own instinct and stop captaining for the commentators.
Cook’s form is not going well for some months as he could not win last nine test. He did not get any centuries in 26 innings. He is facing criticism from doyens for his poor performance. Steve said that Cook should follow his gut without thinking of any mistakes. Recently he was criticized by Australian legend mystery spinner Shane Warne. Cook has tried many innovative ideas as he was tagged as “boring” during England’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash by Australia. But every time innovative ideas could not be the best one.
Steve judged his performance and said that new approach has been counter-productive. Steve particularly pointed to the Cook’s strategy in the first innings of the second Test against India at Lord’s. Cook advised Liam Plunkett to deliver bouncers on a pitch offering colossal movement but his this strategy rebounded as India recuperate from 145-7 to post 295 all out.
Cook is not using his experience, his gut feeling. He is following the criticizers. Captaincy is the thing which cannot be taught, cannot be advised. A Captain should understand the current situation. According to that situation he has to take instant decisions, said Waugh. Cook should judge the circumstances correctly, if he can do that perfectly success will follow him. According to the Waugh, Cook was captaining for commentators.
Waugh, who won 41 of his 57 Tests as Australia captain between 1999 and 2004 said that when the score was 145/7, he should advise bowler to bowl line and length and wait for the nick, instead of this he went for the ‘bodyline theory’. Cook was trying to be innovative, bowling leg side. But did not click and India managed to score above 250 where they could be bundled under 200 runs. According to Waugh, being innovative is not bad but Cook picked the wrong time to be innovative.
Cook is going through a horrible situation, but he has the potential to overcome this, added Steve. It is very hard to remember when England won the last match. They are suffering since their 3-0 Ashes victory over Australia last summer.
