In its pomp the West Indies made targeting the opposition captain an art form. More than any other batsman in the opposing line-up, it was the skipper who felt the physical might of the Windies pace attack.
Other teams have certainly followed suit with the psychology of the exercise well founded.
Getting the opposition captain – more often than not a batsman – under pressure can provide advantages other than merely reducing his input on the scoreboard.
A team can become listless when its skipper is floundering.
The man in question, burdened by the fact he is not contributing, can lead to a less than clear head in the field which at times affects his decision making and fielding.
Hence, there is little question that Australia will make Alastair Cook a prime target in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Since the first Test of the last Ashes series in England Cook’s form has been modest.
In 19 Tests and 35 innings he has failed to post a century, while his strike rate has been a pedestrian 41.5 while averaging a mere 32.1 – hardly the numbers you desire from an opening batsman, let alone one who is also the team leader.
His stats prior to July 2013 had him in stellar company – 92 Tests for 7524 runs at 49.2 and an England record of 25 centuries – and all before his 28th birthday.
It was not beyond the realm of possibility at that point for him to be second behind Sachin Tendulkar in terms of runs and centuries by career end.
The past two years have scuppered that.
Cook’s early days at the helm were the most productive of his 111 Test career.
After assuming the captaincy from Andrew Strauss in March 2010 he rewrote the record books with centuries in his first five Tests as skipper.
It was during that golden period that he became the youngest player to post 7000 Test runs.
Batting seemed simple.
But the last 25 months have seen just two centuries, both against New Zealand.
To add to Cook’s woes he was stripped of the one-day captaincy for this year’s World Cup and then omitted from the squad as well.
He said at the time that he was “gutted to be left out”.
England is currently two Tests into a three-Test series in the Caribbean.
The drawn first match provided Cook with no joy whatsoever as he made scores of 11 and 13 at North Sound.
When West Indies batted first in the second Test at St George’s Cook proceeded to give a life to Marlon Samuels on 32 when presented with a straight forward catch at first slip off Chris Jordan, allowing Samuels to reach 103.
It was symptomatic of a man whose mind was perhaps elsewhere.
Innings of 76 and 59 not out eased the pressure a tad.
Prior to those twin half-centuries he had averaged a paltry 28.8 in his previous 18 Tests.
The final Test, starting on Friday at Bridgetown, is a vital one for Cook on both a team and personal front.
Another solid match with the willow will see him start the northern summer with much needed confidence.
However, a return to his efforts in the opening Test against the Windies will again have him under pressure heading into the two home Tests against New Zealand, his last series ahead of July’s first Ashes Test at Cardiff.
In the lead-in to the Windies series he spent inordinate time with his long-time mentor Graham Gooch.
After analysing videotape it was decided that he move to a more open stance to allow him to more easily access the on-side while giving him a clearer determination of where his off-stump was.
Cook’s captaincy of late has been less formulaic but no matter how good his captaincy is it is runs that matter most.
The move to recall Jonathan Trott to the side as an opener for the current series has hardly been a success with his four innings to date producing a mere 63 runs.
By the time Cardiff rolls around it is imperative for England that its opening pair is on-song and equal to the task against a likely pace barrage comprising Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Ryan Harris.
Australia knows all too well the threat that Cook can provide.
In the 2010-11 Ashes series in Australia he made a mockery of the bowling as his cover driving and authoritative cross-bat shots ruled the day.
An innings of 235 not out in the opening Test at the Gabba laid the foundation for a 766-run series at an average of 127.7.
Cook is an earnest, thoughtful character who will be fully aware of where he is at and what still needs to be done.
He sits second on England’s list of all-time Test run-scorers with another 319 needed to see him surpass Gooch.
Life is not as easy for Cook nowadays, but as was the case when he burst onto the scene the future is firmly in his hands.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Just as likely that Clarke could be ours considering that he'll get out on the field whether he is fit or not. Skippers refuse to make a call on themselves no matter how unfit they are when the Ashes are on.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
Haha, yeah, fair enough, mate. I didn't particularly mean to imply that Australia is any better in that regard, rather that it's nice to have a break from it. It is rather hard not to enjoy seeing the shoe on the other foot, after the last few Ashes before that one.
Disco
Guest
Meaning what? Johnson was poor in the three Ashes defeats.
Disco
Guest
Um, maybe. But fact is they've each only had one good Ashes series. Be interesting to see if Cook plays till his mid-30s whether that ledger will shift.
Joe
Guest
I think he provided the answers today.
QuitWhinging
Guest
Was expensive but still took wickets
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Key difference being that Cook's sole good Ashes was nearly 5 years ago while Johnson's was in the last series.
Disco
Guest
You could say the same about Johnson's Ashes's record. But I suspect you won't.
QuitWhinging
Guest
That is always the fallback by the poms whenever someone points out his Ashes record. One swallow doesn't make a career or should I say fluke? His average in the other 4 series is well under 30 and is a true indication to how he plays against Australia. But you'll probably just ignore that
Rich_UK
Guest
Whereas Australia’s public and press took the previous Ashes defeats, notably the one in Australia, with the good-humoured sang-froid for which Australians are so famed. hahahaha, spot on with that :)
CW
Guest
Is Captain Alistair's "goose cooked". Sorry! Cook, in his early days, batted like a man who knew no one could get him out. That was before bowlers identified a weakness he had outside his off stump of constantly wafting at the full, wide, moving ball. He soon went from the confident, 'get me out if you can', batsman to one hunted relentlessly. His test average plummeted as did his confidence. His captaincy also took a beating. With many saying he was far too conservative. This ashes series will be a defining moment in the career of Alistair Cook. Firstly. Will he survive as captain? Secondly. Will he score the necessary runs to maintain his place in the England side? Only he can provide the answers.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Weak attack? Surprising comment given how many times Anderson and Broad have sorted out the Aussie batting line-up in recent series. Ali, Anderson and Broad all average under 30 with the ball." I should clarify that...It is not a "weak attack" compared to others like Windies/Sri Lanka/Zim/Bang. But as far as England go it's easily the weakest attack they have had in more than a decade in my opinion. With all due respect to Anderson and Broad they are not the players they were two years ago and that is not just my opinion, both have copped huge heat in the English press (all sections, not just tabloids). Although it must be noted that Jimmy's spell with the new ball on day 5 of the last Test was wonderful. Broad in particular is a shadow of his former self, with his batting also having gone from brilliant for a tail ender to number 11 stuff. Not sure what's up with him, although he is still young enough to bounce back. Ali has done well as a 5th bowler but they still really suffer from the lack of a specialist spinner. And their other quicks - Jordan/Plunkett/Stokes/Woakes - have done nothing so far to suggest they're Test standard specialist bowlers.
Alexander Bonacci
Roar Rookie
I think wait to see how he goes against New Zealand before anything, it will be a real test for him and others and i think that series may determine how they start in the Ashes
Frederick
Guest
766 runs 127.66 average What Alastair Cook did against the Aussies the last time they wrote him off.
Frederick
Guest
Weak attack? Surprising comment given how many times Anderson and Broad have sorted out the Aussie batting line-up in recent series. Ali, Anderson and Broad all average under 30 with the ball.
Homer Gain
Guest
Whereas Australia's public and press took the previous Ashes defeats, notably the one in Australia, with the good-humoured sang-froid for which Australians are so famed.
Dazza
Guest
Great article as usual, Glenn, and congrats also to Rohan, who usually has his finger on the pulse. Cook, like Mark Taylor, had his best Test stats before assuming the captaincy, tho it must be said in both cases that the imposters were salivating at what the incumbents had built. Very few people in life have neither the ability nor the opportunity to build what these two guys have... it's nothing to sneeze at... .
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
And I agree, watching the English media methodically taking the ECB to pieces was pretty funny. The whole KP media war ... I couldn't really decide who I was going for in the end, it was just fun to watch all the destruction ...
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
No, I don't expect they'll roll over and die this time, although I'll certainly take it if they do. Bit hard to tell what they'll do, really. Having said that, I reckon the Aussies will still pull it off. I mean, sure, we lost 3-0 in 2013 but we lost the first test by 14 runs and we were on track for the fourth as well, plus we would (probably) have won the third and fifth if not for the weather. Lords was the only game we got thrashed. England played better overall and that's why they won that series, but we made more of a fight of it than I think people often give us credit for in hindsight. I wouldn't be all that surprised if it was a similar story this time - England may well get a win, or a few draws, or both, but I think we'll come away with the series, considering the form players and the settled, confident team we have now. After all, we're coming off a home summer where we won every series, as opposed to the poor lot that went over last time after losing 4-0, with all these dramatic player-axings and coach-sackings going on as well.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Nice piece Glenn. On Trott there is already talk that if he fails in this last Test in the Windies that England will open with Adam Lyth instead against NZ. That would be a very tough introduction for Lyth, facing the lethal new ball attack of Boult and Southee and then going straight into an Ashes series against Harris and Johnson. Giving Lyth 3 Tests on flat Windies decks against a modest pace attack would have been a nice, gentle debut but it's too late for that now.