We want to play a bit more aggressive and with more intent: Alastair Cook

England team after being trumped in Mohali Test had quite a relief with the 8-day break in the series. Having spent some time off the field with their families in Dubai the visitors would like to get back to business soon as the fourth Test kicks off tomorrow in Mumbai. On the eve of the Test England captain, Alastair Cook said that they want to make a comeback in the series and play with positive intent.

“It’s a clear message I knew was coming out [from Bayliss]. We sat down at the end of the Mohali game and discussed how we wanted to play. We chatted at the end of that game and it’s a very fair thing as part of the leadership group alongside Trevor and a couple of coaches,” Cook said.

He mentioned that they did well in the first Test at Rajkot where both the batting as well as bowling department kicked but wants to shoot up to that level of intent in the Mumbai Test. “Rajkot was our blueprint, we played really well there and we might have just slipped off a little bit in terms of that intent. Hopefully we can go back to that. It was just not Trevor saying,” Cook added.

“We do have to take that second innings in Vizag out of it where we played that way. But I wonder whether that did kind of tie into the third game and there was a bit of hangover and we did go back into our shells a bit. After chatting around a bit I think it was quite clear message that we wanted to play a little bit more aggressively and a bit more intent. Trevor likes that,” he said.

England have brought in Keaton Jennings as a replacement for Haseeb Hameed who fractured his figure. Cook confirmed that Jennings will make his debut tomorrow and will be opening the innings with the skipper. “He’s going to play. He’s going to open the batting and another great opportunity for a guy to come in and play. He’s in good touch, spending bit of time in the middle with the lions, getting hundreds and stuff,” said Cook.

“It’s pretty similar to what happened with me 10 years ago [When Cook debuted in Nagpur]. I have never met him properly. He seems already a guy who’s got a great head on his shoulders, mentally he’s a very strong player. I wish him all the best.

“Obviously it’s disappointing about Has (Hameed), we obviously found a player there. But if Keaton comes in and does well, it’s just adding to our top-order players,” he added.

The visitors have pleasant memories attached to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. They best the hosts twice here in 2006 and 2012. It was the Mumbai game where England turned things around on last tour and went on the win the series 2-1. “It’s quite nice coming to a ground where we have good memories. Clearly doesn’t count for much now. Mumbai has historically been a good ground for us. So hopefully we can play well,” Cook said.

Talking about the Indian pace bowling duo of Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav who have also troubled the English batsmen early on and with the old ball Cook said, “Certainly I am not surprised, we’ve faced them before. Certainly with their pace, their control has improved since the last time I have faced them. Kind of happens as people get better and better.

The most capped English skipper also praised former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan and his ability to swing the ball. “Zaheer Khan was one of the best bowlers I have ever faced with the swinging ball in England in 2007. He bowled beautifully and the skills he had with the swinging ball. For me to compare them is quite hard but they are certainly quicker than Zaheer,”

In case Shami doesn’t make it, Uttar Pradesh swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar will make his way into the playing XI for the game. “Majority of the time I have faced him is in white ball cricket. He hits the length extremely well. He will be a different bowler to Yadav, obviously he’s not as quick. He will make it tricky with the control he has. I will be surprised if India change, the balance of their attack is pretty good,” Cook said talking about his experience against Bhuvi.

He also said that the team is replenished and mentally recharged after the break that they spent in Dubai. “The holiday was worthwhile, of course. Certainly the guys do feel re-energisized, bit of a change of scenery. We had five days off in a long tour. Mentally and physically it has done the players a world of good. People in the media and back home will only judge on how well we play. After those three games in three weeks it was good to get out and not really worry about cricket.” Cook said.