'Not defending their performance but there is a human element' - Alastair Cook opens up as England continue to struggle

Former England captain Alastair Cook has come out in defense of the struggling English team in their ongoing Test series against India. With the hosts establishing an impervious 3-1 lead in the five-match series, concerns have been voiced regarding England's underwhelming performance and mindset.

While recognizing the team's underwhelming performance, Cook emphasized the human dimension of cricket and the challenges of prolonged time away from home. He credited the players for their perseverance and praised Ben Stokes and company for keeping the series competitive despite the formidable opposition.

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There’s a little of the human element that comes into it: Alastair Cook

Cook's remarks came in light of England's dismal showing in the fifth Test match in Dharamsala, where India asserted their dominance on Day 2. 

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill showcased stellar batting performances, scoring dominant centuries and solidifying India's position in the match. With India ending Day 2 on 473/8, England find themselves trailing by a substantial margin of 255 runs.

Cook highlighted, “There’s a little of the human element that comes into it. We are sitting here away from the emotions of the game. We are sitting here at home watching the telly. I am not defending England but they have been away for getting on eight weeks. It’s a tough tour, they’re not robots,” Cook said on TNT Sports.

Cook's empathetic stance stems from his own experiences of leading England on infamous and demanding tours of India, where the alien conditions and relentless pressure often took a heavy psychological toll.

"I am not defending their performance but there is a human element. I would want them to get home to get out of the pressure. We sit here, having cups of coffee, watching them getting beaten heavily by India, but the human element of a player now going through the next couple of days is going to be incredibly tough," he added.

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Cook remarked that England demonstrated moments of competitiveness in the opening Tests, making the series closer and more tightly-contested than most expected.

“They did pretty well in the first few Test matches, make it more competitive than anyone I think honestly said in the first four Test matches. It is a tough place to be,” he concluded.