Alastair Cook credits wife Alice for not relinquishing the England captaincy
After England’s emphatic 3-1 series win against India, England skipper Alastair Cook admitted that he might have not been the one lifting the Investec trophy on Sunday, had it not been for the support he received from Alice, his wife, to continue as captain in recent weeks.
Cook didn’t quit thanks to his wife
"Without my wife, I don't think I'd be standing here as captain," a relieved Cook told BBC Test Match Special.
"You don't often say things like that - I don't know why I just have - but it's the way I feel.
"You can bare your soul quite often to Alice and she's very good at getting me back on the straight and narrow.
"That fourth night at Headingley was a tough place because we had let a winning position slip. Lord's was also very tough - the way we lost there in conditions that were suited to us.
"But I'm quite stubborn - I believe in my ability. I stuck in there through the tough times. Sport tests your character and to bounce back as a team is testament to our character."
Cook had opined that England were at an all-time low after their defeat to India in the 2nd Test at Lord’s, which followed their 1-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka earlier in the summer. The England captain’s own form was also a huge cause of concern, having averaged below 25 in the last 12 months.
Improvement in his own batting form
Since then, there has been a remarkable turnaround not only in the team’s fortunes but Cook’s own fortunes. The opening batsman has scored 3 half-centuries in the last 3 Tests and has finished with a series average of 49.66 while the team has performed much better as a unit with the young players backing up the seniors admirably.
"I remember saying when we were 1-0 down that I still thought we were going to win the series," said Cook.
"I had a lot of confidence in the talent and skill we had in the dressing room but I didn't think we'd win quite as emphatically as we have done.
"English cricket needed a series win and to deliver like we have delivered puts a big smile on our face.
"The bowlers all took wickets and almost all the batters scored runs, so it's almost the perfect game.
"We haven't felt like this for a long time. We were laughing out there. You don't get many days like that. We have to enjoy it and hope it's the start of a long road back," Cook concluded.