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[jamielsn15]

Definitly benefitted initially from such a strong experienced line up- middle order of trott, kp, bell plus swann, broad, anderson at their peaks is going to help anyone.

I never got the impression he wanted or enjoyed the captaincy. Its not an easy job- all time greats of the game have tried and failed. For Cook to step into a role like that was for the good of the team and that deserves credit. His conservatism illustrated that hes not a natural at the role, hopefully root will bring more flare and natural instinct to the job.

I think he'll be remembered as a solid, if not imoressive captain who overall took the team on and helped to embed some future england stars and greats as the next generation. Having someone withnhis experience to bridge that gap may prove invaluable...

[ppccopener]

Definitly benefitted initially from such a strong experienced line up- middle order of trott, kp, bell plus swann, broad, anderson at their peaks is going to help anyone.

I never got the impression he wanted or enjoyed the captaincy. Its not an easy job- all time greats of the game have tried and failed. For Cook to step into a role like that was for the good of the team and that deserves credit. His conservatism illustrated that hes not a natural at the role, hopefully root will bring more flare and natural instinct to the job.

I think he'll be remembered as a solid, if not imoressive captain who overall took the team on and helped to embed some future england stars and greats as the next generation. Having someone withnhis experience to bridge that gap may prove invaluable...

absolutely, but look at those names you mention.....quality players who could win games, look at Ponting, was it not Warne who said literally his grandma(must be in the genes) could captain the superb Aussie side in the late 90's and early 2000's.....?

Ponting has a great record as Captain, is he a great captain thou...not really. Mark Taylor did a lot with a more limited side IMHO.Steve Waugh? great leader-look at the players he had thou.

Cook has not hung on too long, he is now leaving a good period for someone new to settle in-sounds to me like a decision with the team in mind

As for Kevin Pieterson, views will be clouded, people can blame Cook all they like, and they will, he clashed with Flower not Cook(who KP actually respects massively if you have followed the saga)

Personally the 'divorce' while badly handed by the ECB was the best thing that could of happened to English cricket. The team moves on with younger players, and it has.

I don't expect others to agree and it's great there's different opinions on the forum, it's what makes it a good place.

 

[jamielsn15]

^ i think thats all fair comment. Agree re mark taylor, built on what a truly great captain, Border, set in place.

Youve also got to have people who want to play for you. I look at recent collapses and part of me wonders, with all, the ability we have, do some players have the fight?

Different era now for root, he'll take a young side forward hopefully with the experienced old stager cook scoring stacks of runs. Christ I feel old!

[petehosk]

I think he went through good and bad periods as Captain. In fact...

Regrets, he had a few, But then again, too few to mention.
He did what he had to do, And saw it through without exemption

He planned each charted course, Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this he did it the ECB's his way

Yes, there were times, he's sure Strauss we knew, When he bit off more than he could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt he ate it up and got told off spit it out
He faced it all and he stood tall And did it his way!

[petehosk]

Seriously, his decisions as a Captain were generally by the book and too predictable.
But there can be absolutely no doubt that as an opening Test batsman he is World Class!
So just hope he continues to produce the goods and would love to see him hit 15,000 or more 

[trypewriter]

be interesting to look at the stats of games he didn't win through being too cautious - possibly fewer than we imagine.

[Seniorplayer]

A captain who always had an excuse ready for losing, was happy to chuck others (kp, flower and carberry) under the bus.
Not to forget that he still thought he was good enough to be ODI captain after being replaced.

I think his flaw was lets make the game safe first rather than  when we have  an opportunity  to win  become less cautious  and go for it.

[InternalTraining]

It is good for Cook. He can focus on records now. I think the fans will see a better, more aggressive batsman in Cook.

[WalkingWicket37]

It is good for Cook. He can focus on records now. I think the fans will see a better, more aggressive batsman in Cook.

I honestly hope he doesn't decide to focus on records!
I'd rather see him play for the team, and let go when the time comes. I'd hate to see him hanging around for a few extra years trying to break Sachin's record, if he wasn't performing for the team.

[InternalTraining]

^ I agree. I meant "while playing for the team and the greater good". I don't think two aims have to be mutually exclusive.

[Stuey]

I think his flaw was lets make the game safe first rather than  when we have  an opportunity  to win  become less cautious  and go for it.

I'd say this is mostly due to not having a world class bowling line up. Had he had swann and Anderson , Broad at their peak or injury free he he may have been willing to take more of a risk. . It's hard to be attacking with a only 2 experienced bowlers whom are frequently injured of late.
Vaughan may have been more tactically aware but he had a pretty decent bowling attack, and the same for Strauss.

[edge]

Good from Dobell as usual: http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/1081327.html

[Manormanic]

Cook has done okay when he had the players to do so - but when he was faced with dwindling resources, he struggled to make the most of them, and I do think that some younger players would have come on better under a more flexible captain.

Hopefully, he will continue to contribute runs and catches for a good few years yet - he is definitely a test class batsman, of that there is no doubt.  Equally hopefully, the succession can be managed in such a way as to avoid wrecking another world class talent.

[ppccopener]

I'd say this is mostly due to not having a world class bowling line up. Had he had swann and Anderson , Broad at their peak or injury free he he may have been willing to take more of a risk. . It's hard to be attacking with a only 2 experienced bowlers whom are frequently injured of late.
Vaughan may have been more tactically aware but he had a pretty decent bowling attack, and the same for Strauss.

Vaughan was a good captain,tactically astute and of course,forever famous for breaking the aussies in 2005,strauss also very astute and brought a new culture to the team that got us to number 1.

It would be interesting if Cook had the 2005 bowling attack instead of the current one would he be viewed differently..?  True...no broad or anderson...

Personally the 2005 bowlers were the best ive seen as a unit for England that i can remember..we have had good bowlers, have we had that good at the same time?

[Seniorplayer]

Also  what Cook didn't have was a world class all rounder