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[Manormanic]

Jinxed him?

[Johnny]

Can people remember the days when we thought Cook was crap and should get dropped?

[Kulli]

Can people remember the days when we thought Cook was crap and should get dropped?

Less than two years ago!

[tim2000s]

Before the last Ashes tour if I remember correctly...

[Kulli]

Before the last Ashes tour if I remember correctly...

Yup, we laughed at a mate who had put money on him to be top scorer in that series!

[Number4]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2oVy-DtUw1s

Around this time I think

[Manormanic]

The difference is, Cook had at least given us reason to believe that he might be test class before that poor run of form, and the majority of the people who were calling for his head (I wasn't, for the record) were not suggesting he should never play again!

[Johnny]

I wasn't in the 'Drop Cook' party either, but I didn't think he was THIS good!

[Manormanic]

I think to be fair that the bowling is helping him to look THIS good.  Since the "drop Cook" brigade were at their height (after he had struggled against a rather reasonable attack of Ajmal, Asif, Amir etc) he has enjoyed a rather more than good Ashes series against an Australian attack who quite frankly wouldn't have gotten Geoffry Boycott's mother out even were she weilding a stick of part cooked rhubarb that were past its sell by date, an Indian attack utterly unsuited for and uninterested in playing in English conditions and the same attack eighteen months older on featherbeds.  His patience and willingness to bat time should always prosper in those circumstances - I'd just point out that his record against the South Africans, Pakistan and West Indies was less stellar and that he was clearly outshone by Hashim Amla...

[tim2000s]

I think to be fair that the bowling is helping him to look THIS good.  Since the "drop Cook" brigade were at their height (after he had struggled against a rather reasonable attack of Ajmal, Asif, Amir etc) he has enjoyed a rather more than good Ashes series against an Australian attack who quite frankly wouldn't have gotten Geoffry Boycott's mother out even were she weilding a stick of part cooked rhubarb that were past its sell by date, an Indian attack utterly unsuited for and uninterested in playing in English conditions and the same attack eighteen months older on featherbeds.  His patience and willingness to bat time should always prosper in those circumstances - I'd just point out that his record against the South Africans, Pakistan and West Indies was less stellar and that he was clearly outshone by Hashim Amla...

Only the one score over 50 in the 2012 series v SA.

[Nickauger]

Can only score runs against what's put in front of you!

[Manormanic]

yes, but the point I was making was that he didn't when what was put in front of him was Steyn, Morkel, Philander, Kallis and the pie chucker!

[Nickauger]

Desperately trying to find records of great batsmen against the likes of the great Aussies, West Indian teams, but can't seem to find any that back me up lol. Is still slightly better than a flat track bully though

[Manormanic]

don't disagree, was merely pointing out that his current form is impressive rather than massively surprising.

[uknsaunders]

Back onto the match. IF England can bat 4 sessions then I think they might have this in the bag. By then they'll be 250-300 ahead and have 5 sessions on a worn pitch to have a good go at India. England spinners have looked far more threatening than India's. I also fancy Finn to get some LBW's thanks to the low variable bounce. Key is to bat long tomorrow and into Day 4.