India v England: Fourth Test defeat one of Alastair Cook's worst as captain, says Nasser Hussain
Monday 12 December 2016 19:20, UK
Nasser Hussain says England's innings defeat to India in the fourth Test in Mumbai is one of Alastair Cook's worst as captain.
England lost their final four wickets inside eight overs on the fifth and final day to slip to an innings-and-39-run defeat and surrender the series; trailing 3-0 with one Test to play.
Hussain believes Cook and England got selection for the tour, and particularly the fourth Test, wrong but is not calling for the skipper to step down.
"It's one of the worst defeats England have had under Cook," said Hussain. "The way they fielded, the dropped catches, the selection, the manner of the defeat this morning; they just got it horribly wrong from start to finish.
"Everyone said first innings runs are important in India, and they scored 400, but then when they got those runs it went pear-shaped.
"We've been out here before and been out-bowled by the opposition spinners and the Indian batsmen have played spin better than us - that has happened historically, but as a result, you have to get every other part of your game right.
"England 100 per cent picked the wrong side. I heard Cook's interview, and there were excuses that four seamers give you control, but three seamers could still give you control on a pitch like that.
"We've all read pitches wrong, I've read pitches wrong, all captains do it, but hold your hands up at the end and say you got it wrong - he didn't do that.
"Cook, at the moment, has to decide; is what he's doing making England a better side? Has he got the energy to lead them up to the Ashes next year, to try and win Down Under and make up for the 5-0 defeat?
"Historically, it's around now that's the cut-off period - after about four years, 40 Test matches as captain; whether it be Strauss, Atherton, Hussain, Vaughan.
"The difference is, Cook has five months off after the Chennai Test. And would England be changing for the better?
"Do they suddenly become a better side overnight when Joe Root takes over? For me, personally, there's no guarantee that Root will suddenly be a magnificent captain.
"If Cook has the energy, carry on with the job. But if not, go now and give Root a chance."
Cook, himself, was asked about his future as England captain after the fourth Test defeat, but said it's not something he will think about until the end of the tour.
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"It's a question which was asked of me right at the beginning of the series and my position hasn't changed," he said.
"Andrew Strauss asked me to lead the tour - and after what's happened in the past with the one-day side, I've always asked him to have a debrief at the end of the tour and that's what we'll do."
Watch India take on England in the fifth and final Test of the series from Chennai, live on Sky Sports 2 from 3.30am on Friday.
