Alastair Cook sounds alarm bells for England over 'lack of match preparation' in India

Ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against India, former England captain Alastair Cook expressed concerns over the potential impact of inadequate preparation on Ben Stokes and his team. The series is set to commence in Hyderabad on January 25. Reflecting on England's successful 2012 tour, where they clinched a historic 2-1 victory in India, he highlighted the importance of proper practice games before such crucial contests.

He advocated for a gentlemen's agreement between cricket boards to ensure visiting teams receive quality practice matches. Emphasising the Bazball ideology, Cook believed it provides England with a clear approach to success in India. As the series unfolds, the significance of thorough preparation remains a focal point for the visiting team.

"The problem England will have is a lack of match preparation. It would be good if there was some sort of unwritten agreement between countries to put on decent practice matches in decent conditions for touring teams. I now think it is their best chance of success. They won't follow the traditional rules of batting in the subcontinent,” Cook wrote in his column for The Sunday Times.

Cook banks on Joe Root to deliver in India

Alastair Cook had set a remarkable example in the historic 2012 Test series as he amassed an impressive 562 runs from eight innings with an average of 80.28. Now, the southpaw is optimistic about star batter Joe Root's potential in subcontinent conditions.

He cited Root's noteworthy performance in Sri Lanka in 2021, where he scored 426 runs in four innings. Root further solidified his prowess with a stellar double-century against India in Chennai. The Test maverick believed Root possesses the requisite technique and temperament for success in challenging subcontinental environments.

"He's scored a lot of runs in the subcontinent in recent years in Sri Lanka and India, and he has done it by being very proactive, but in what seemed to be a very risk-free way," he added.