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AS IF the last couple of weeks have not contained enough bad news for India, Graham Gooch had a little more for them. As far as Gooch is concerned, the best of Alastair Cook is yet to come. Cook’s batting has been one of the major differences between the teams this series. In three Tests, he has contributed three centuries and his tally of runs – 548 at an average of 109.60 – is more than Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh combined.
But Gooch feels Cook, who will be 28 on Christmas Day, has not yet reached his peak and will inevitably break Gooch’s own record as England’s top run-scorer in Test cricket. Gooch scored 8 900 Test runs, while Cook currently has 7 103. Only Kevin Pietersen, of current England players, has more with 7 335.
“In my opinion,” Gooch said, “the years between 27 to 35 are the best years for a batsman because you have honed your knowledge and you know your game. I think he’s got his best years in front of him. He’s got to stay fit and motivated but nothing at the moment would suggest to me that that won’t happen. I hope to hang on in this job until he goes past my record.”
Few know Cook as a cricketer as well as Gooch. Not only do the pair of them, as Essex and England opening batsmen and captain have much in common, but Gooch was the batting coach at Essex as Cook was developing and now performs the same role with England.
He has watched Cook at close quarters throughout his career and, while Gooch admits Cook has never been the most eye-catching player, the skills that have served him so well at the top level were apparent very early.
“Alastair was on the Essex Academy and it was pretty obvious he was going to be a good player,” Gooch said. “I can’t remember the first time I saw him but I do remember him keeping wicket and batting for our Board XI against Essex in a proper match.”
That match was a Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy game from 2003. Cook, opening the batting and keeping wicket for Essex Cricket Board against Essex, only scored 27 in the match, but his maturity stuck in Gooch’s mind.
But Gooch feels Cook, who will be 28 on Christmas Day, has not yet reached his peak and will inevitably break Gooch’s own record as England’s top run-scorer in Test cricket. Gooch scored 8 900 Test runs, while Cook currently has 7 103. Only Kevin Pietersen, of current England players, has more with 7 335.
“In my opinion,” Gooch said, “the years between 27 to 35 are the best years for a batsman because you have honed your knowledge and you know your game. I think he’s got his best years in front of him. He’s got to stay fit and motivated but nothing at the moment would suggest to me that that won’t happen. I hope to hang on in this job until he goes past my record.”
Few know Cook as a cricketer as well as Gooch. Not only do the pair of them, as Essex and England opening batsmen and captain have much in common, but Gooch was the batting coach at Essex as Cook was developing and now performs the same role with England.
He has watched Cook at close quarters throughout his career and, while Gooch admits Cook has never been the most eye-catching player, the skills that have served him so well at the top level were apparent very early.
“Alastair was on the Essex Academy and it was pretty obvious he was going to be a good player,” Gooch said. “I can’t remember the first time I saw him but I do remember him keeping wicket and batting for our Board XI against Essex in a proper match.”
That match was a Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy game from 2003. Cook, opening the batting and keeping wicket for Essex Cricket Board against Essex, only scored 27 in the match, but his maturity stuck in Gooch’s mind.
