Cook: finding form

Vaughany, as captain, gets to bat where he wants.

Alastair Cook
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England opener Alastair Cook feels his batting is on an upward curve heading into the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on May 15.

Cook's 57 could not prevent his county side Essex losing to the tourists by 92 runs on the final day of the warm-up fixture at Chelmsford.

The left-hander made just 15 in the first innings and was fortunate to be dropped by Ross Taylor before he had scored second time around.

He took advantage of that reprieve to grind out a 114-ball half-century that featured only five boundaries, but believes he has laid the foundation for better things to come.

"It could have been a lot worse if Ross Taylor had caught me yesterday," said Cook.

"I'm very grateful I could spend a bit of time in the middle - and I hope I can use it well.

"As many nets as you have, as many throw-downs as you have, I spent two-and-a-half hours out there.

Rhythm

"You get rhythm and time into your batting - and you can't beat time in the middle.

"The last few games I've played, I haven't really had that.

"If you go and score three hundreds in your first three innings here, you might think, 'I should have saved them for Lord's' - so I hope the curve is looking up."

Cook dislocated his right little finger while fielding in the first innings against the Black Caps, but confirmed that the minor injury is no longer an issue.

"It's fine," he said. "I was very lucky that it went straight back in, and the swelling has all gone now."

Defensive

On the New Zealand bowling attack, he added: "They bowled very well. They have quite defensive fields but bowl one side of the wicket.

"It's been slightly underplayed how they can swing the ball both ways with good control.

"They stick to their guns very well and deserve a lot of credit for the way they bowled today."

England are likely to select fellow left-hander Andrew Strauss as Cook's opening partner for the first Test of the summer, with skipper Michael Vaughan keen to bat at number three.

That would represent a reversal from the recent series in New Zealand when England came back from losing the opening Test to claim a 2-1 victory. On that occasion Cook and the right-handed Vaughan opened, with Strauss coming in at first drop.

"The left and right-hand combination had worked well," said Cook.

"But Vaughany, as captain, gets to bat where he wants."