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Alastair Cook’s positive vibes ease blow of his early exit

The Analyst

Captaining a Test team and opening the batting is probably one of the hardest jobs in sport. You are conductor, first violinist and soloist rolled into one. Sometimes musical director too. It requires someone of great composure and ability who is able to compartmentalise all the different aspects of his job.

Alastair Cook cuts a relaxed figure before the match, strolling about the pitch, chatting and absorbing the necessary information about the conditions before deciding what to do at the toss. He didn’t have to make that decision as Brendon McCullum called right and elected to field. Cook was also spared facing the first ball of the match as his new partner, Adam Lyth, nobly preferred to do so.

However, Cook was not spared an…

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