Former England starter Alastair Cook has endorsed Rohit Sharma to have a long career as a test starter, saying India loves the way he hits his punches every time he settles into his innings. Cook added that Rohit will be dangerous in subcontinent conditions, considering its ability to seal the initiative with its aggressive approach.
Alastair Cook’s comments came after Rohit Sharma dominated England’s bowling attack on Day 1 of the 2nd Test at an effects field in Chennai. Rohit seemed like a class apart as he played English spinners with ease on a field where some of his established teammates struggled.
It was tough to survive in Chepauk’s field, but Rohit took the attacking route and did it by scoring 161 with a strike rate close to 70. He hit 18 limits and 2 6s while sweeping and driving against the spin with ease.
Rohit’s seventh test hundred helped India finish Day 1 in 300/6, taking the lead days after losing Test 1 by a whopping 227 races. Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane posted 162 runs as they kept the score moving to help India recover from the fast-paced Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli grounds before lunch.
“He’s a bit more attacking than I am. He’s not quite Sehwag in terms of that kind of attack, he (Sehwag) is probably one of the most attacking and successful opening hitters. Rohit is probably at the next level of aggressiveness. but he looked so controlled … In that entrance, he wanted to attack when he wanted, everything seemed quite controlled.
“The only obvious problem with Rohit is that line off the stump, the way he came out in the first innings of the first test match. His away record is not great. That’s where you should aim for him, but obviously this pitch doesn’t have that rhythm, “Alastair Cook told the BBC’s special Test Match podcast.
“Under these conditions, he looked absolutely world-class. His statistics in India averaging over 50 prove it.”
India likes to have Rohit on the test team: Cook
Alastair Cook compared Rohit Sharma’s hitting style in test matches to that of Virender Sehwag, noting that the former is probably not on the same level when it comes to attacking the wild, but can do damage by following his methods.
Cook noted that Rohit struggled to maintain consistency during the initial phase of his Test career, but that he has morphed into a good hitter after starting to open innings for India in 2019.
“… Also, when he has played, he was not that consistent at the beginning. Also, the Indian selectors make changes if he were English, maybe they would have given him a longer career,” Cook added.
“He’s just started to open. He’s hit a lot in the middle order. Just at the last minute has he taken his one-day starting role, obviously he’s opened a lot in one day, on the red ball (format).
“He’s here to stay for a while. They like to have him on the team and he’s on the team for that whole package. Clearly his careers and the way he gets his careers, if he comes in, he’s going to do what he has. done today (more often) “.
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