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.
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