Former England captain Alistair Cook has questioned England’s recent Test performances, suggesting that their 2–2 home series draw against a Shubman Gill-led India may have masked deeper problems ahead of the ongoing Ashes, where they currently trail Australia 0–3.

The five-match series against India, which concluded earlier this year, marked Gill’s first assignment as India’s Test captain. The young batter enjoyed a prolific campaign, scoring 754 runs, including four centuries. However, Cook believes England’s inability to secure a series win against an Indian side he described as “not a great Indian team” should have raised alarm bells.

Speaking on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Cook said England’s early success under the leadership of Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes had created a false sense of progress.

“They started off with a bang — Key, McCullum and Stokes,” Cook said. “I think McCullum won his first eight out of 10 games in that first year. Since then, it’s gone downhill.

“This year, I think their win percentage is just above 30 per cent, so it’s a bit of a downward trend.

“I like Rob Key, I like McCullum, I like how they think, but I do think that over the last little bit they’ve taken their eye off the ball when it comes to the bigger series.”

Referring again to the India series, Cook added: “They were talking up India they lost, they drew India and then India went and got thumped by South Africa. So that Indian side wasn’t a great Indian side either.

“In reality, it’s just hit this England Test team now, and they have to decide how they want to move forward and what players they want to persist with.”

England’s struggles have been laid bare in the Ashes, with defeats in the first three Tests — by eight wickets in Perth and Brisbane, and by 82 runs in Adelaide — handing Australia an unassailable series lead.

England are currently chasing 175 runs to win the fourth Test on the second day in Melbourne, as they attempt to avoid a series whitewash.

(By PTI)

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