Ashes 2013: 5th Test, Day 3 - Flops of the day

1. Alastair Cook (25 runs off 88 balls – 3 fours)

Alastair Cook of England walks out to bat during day three of the 5th Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at the Kia Oval on August 23, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

When you are the captain of an international side as well as a front-line batsman, the least you can do is give your side a great start, and score runs at a fair clip.

Alastair Cook seems to have forgotten the latter role. In all five games of the on-going Investec Ashes series, he has only managed a top score of 62. The feet are nowhere near the pitch of the ball, and he has shown an increasing tendency to play away from the body.

In his brief innings, the skipper played some good shots – starting off proceedings with a nudge to the fine leg boundary off Starc, before executing a lovely pull shot off Faulkner. He also unveiled a beautiful square drive off Harris; for a few moments, it looked like he was returning to form.

Then he played away from the body to an angled delivery and edged it to Haddin behind the stumps. Just like that, Cook flattered to deceive once again. It is time for coach Andy Flower to knock some sense into his captain’s head.