"If you want to play for England, you've got to deliver, otherwise we'll be looking for other employment. That's the nature of the beast and, fundamentally, we're not producing out in the middle"
Thursday 31 May 2018 15:23, UK
In his latest Sky Sports column, Alastair Cook reacts to England's disappointing first Test defeat to Pakistan at Lord's, talks up Keaton Jennings temperament as he returns to the Test fold and looks forward to the 'Participation Test' at Headingley as England attempt to tie the series...
We need to play better. Test futures are on the line.
It's never great when you lose a game of cricket, even more so playing the way we did at Lord's. It's a frustrating time for us at the moment as a side; we're not playing well.
It was a tough week. Leading into it, we practised well. But that doesn't mean anything when you're not able to transfer that out onto the field.
If you want to play cricket for England, you've got to deliver, otherwise we'll be looking for other employment. That's the nature of the beast and, fundamentally, we're not producing out in the middle.
When you're not playing very well and are not winning games of cricket, it's very different from being in a confident side that's playing good cricket. We dropped some chances at Lord's, myself included, and that's another sign of a side that is lower on confidence.
But we have to stick together as a group. The last thing you can do is play the blame game, and the trick is now to not carry the negatives from the first Test with us to Headingley.
Again, that's another thing easier said than done. But clearly we are not going to lose every game of cricket ever, it is going to turn around at some stage, and it's down to us to do that.
Keaton Jennings comes back into the squad. He has been one of the few guys in the County Championship that has scored runs in what has been a tough start to the season for top order batsmen. He has scored two hundreds, and carried that into the one-day format, scoring a century in that as well.
He is a very level-headed guy and seems very suited to Test level, in terms of his mental approach. He got a hundred on debut, which shows he can play, but then against a good South African side last summer things just didn't quite go his way.
It's tough on Mark Stoneman. It's horrible. Playing for England is these guys' dreams, so it's not nice seeing people dropped. I spoke to him on Monday; he was obviously disappointed, as you'd expect, but he has to now go away, score runs and look at areas in which he can improve his game.
It gives Keaton a great opportunity, and we just need people to grab these opportunities with both hands and to start pushing this side forward, like Jos Buttler and Dom Bess - on debut - did at Lord's.
On a personal note, it was nice to get a score in the first innings. But it's clearly disappointing that we're again talking about 50s, 60s, 70s. I did all the hard work without then going on to get a score to help set up the game, though I was pleased with how I hit the ball; there have been a few things that I've been working on since the New Zealand series and they seemed to work.
It was tough conditions to bat in - it did a lot more than we thought it would do at Lord's - with the ball moving consistently, with a good deal of pace and carry throughout the game but, with everybody talking about Joe's decision at the toss, I don't think it was a 184 all out wicket.
Rooty is pretty clear with how he wants the guys to play. But it takes time to implement. As I know from my time as England captain, these things don't just happen overnight.
I have some pretty honest conversations with him, but then it's down to him to choose the path he wants to go on. That's the responsibility of the captain.
It's the same with Keaton. I'll be there to be a bit of a sounding board, like with anyone, but at the end of the day you bat on your own. You obviously try to work as a partnership, but when it comes to facing the ball, it's just you.
We've got to train hard over the next couple of days and then transfer that out into the middle at Headingley. It's not a ground we've done well at recently, losing our last three Tests there, but that doesn't mean we can't do well this week. It's about time luck changes for us.
On a personal note, I'm looking forward to playing in my 154th consecutive Test for England (fingers-crossed nothing untoward happens over the next couple of days), which would break Allan Border's record. Without wanting to sound arrogant, it's something I'm very proud of as I think it shows good longevity.
Clearly throughout that period there have been tough times, times when I've been hanging on to my place, but there have also been some amazing times.
The game at Headingley is also being billed the 'Participation Test', with charities like Chance to Shine being highlighted. It's a very worthwhile cause and one I've always supported.
Maldon Cricket Club, where I grew up, has a massive kids section on Friday nights. That's how I, and a lot of people, get introduced to cricket, but there's not always facilities and kit available at certain levels.
We could always do more, but that's where the ECB alongside Chance to Shine and other charities like the Lord's Taverners are doing a great job in promoting the game to kids. It's about making the most of the places and facilities you've got available and bring the game to kids - I played cricket at a school recently on the top of a roof!
Anyway, it's onwards and upwards again for the second Test. As a team, we're determined to have a good five days, get the Yorkshire crowd behind us, play some good cricket and level the series.
Pakistan are very good front-runners, so we've got to get out in front of them from the off on Friday and look to put them under pressure.
Watch the second Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley from 10am, Friday on Sky Sports Cricket.
Comment below to get involved in the debate, but please adhere to our House Rules. If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click 'Report'.
