Cook warming to the task

Skipper relishing 'huge challenge' ahead

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Cook warming to the task

Cook: Ready for Tigers test

For me it's a huge challenge as captain. I feel ready.

Alastair Cook
Quotes of the week

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England captain Alastair Cook has spoken of his pride and excitement as he prepares to lead the Test team for the first time against Bangladesh.

The left-handed opener, who has assumed the captaincy in place of the resting Andrew Strauss, is attempting to follow up his 3-0 one-day series win over the Tigers when the two-Test series gets underway in Chittagong on Friday.

Cook, 25, revealed how the job gave him sleepless nights at the start of the tour, however he insists he is now relishing the opportunity of leading his country in the longer form of the game.

"Before the first one-day warm-up I hardly slept at all," he said.

"I was thinking 'who will bowl then' and 'who's going to field there' but I've slept well ever since then.

"A bit like the one-dayers, there is the same feeling of nerves but there is also pride that not many people have done what I'm about to do.

Pressure

"For me it's a huge challenge as captain. I feel ready. I'm genuinely excited and I feel a bit more settled in the role now."

Thus far, the added pressure of leading the side has not affected Cook's own form.

The Essex batsman struck two half-centuries and averaged 52 during the three-match ODI series whitewash against the Tigers.

He added: "I've enjoyed the extra responsibility and I've been very pleased with how I've handled it as well.

"Making the decisions I've had to make has been something I've enjoyed and so far we've made the right ones.

"You'd have to ask other people but I feel as though I've done the job really well.

"But you are judged on results and so far it's gone well.

"We have come here to win both series and have done the first job very well. We now have the second part and we want to win these Tests."