Toss was key today: Cook
First Published : 23 Jan 2013, 23:47
Last Modified : 23 Jan 2013, 23:47
Although the match today wasn’t quite as one-sided as the previous ones, the visiting England side was beaten yet again by India at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium at Mohali. With the five-match ODI series decided in favour of the home team, the Alastair Cook-led England side will now be playing for pride when they take on India in the fifth one-day international in a few days.
Although disappointed with the loss, Cook, while speaking to bcci.tv, appreciated young Joe Root’s performance in today’s game and reflected on this loss.
Excerpts from his brief interaction:
Going to Dharamsala for the next match what would you be telling your team as you try to regroup?
It is obviously disappointing that we are 1-3 down, but it is another game of cricket for England and we have got a chance to go and win another game. But we have got some places up for grabs in the team. We have got a big tournament – the ICC trophy coming up and there are places up for grabs.
Where do you think the match went away from you?
I think we had the tough end of the conditions. I think it was an important toss to win. I think the way we combated the conditions, especially with the bat, to get to 257 was a good effort. They were always ahead of the required run-rate and we needed couple of early wickets. […] That partnership between Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina [was key], just when they needed over six runs per over; they scored quickly and we couldn’t keep them from scoring.
Joe Root continues to impress with his performances.
He has done really well. It was a really good innings. He played shots that I hadn’t seen him play before. It shows what a good head he has got on his shoulders and his clear thinking under pressure; and you need that when you are playing international cricket.
Your thoughts on the performance of the Indian team
I thought they played quite well. Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit. They are a hard side to beat at home in one-day cricket and that has been proven. [...] With the way we batted, we held our nerve, which we had not done in the last two games. You know how hard it is to defend at the end. But the way we kept our wickets at the end and kept our patience was good; [and] to have the skill and execute those big shots and get a hundred off the last 10 overs [was good]. We can take really good stuff out of this match. The last two games we couldn’t really do that.
