ENG vs IND 2018: Joe Root Throws His Support Behind 'World-Class Performer' Alastair Cook

England skipper Joe Root has leapt in defence of under-fire Alastair Cook after the latter’s latest failure in the third England vs India Test.

Cook’s struggle with the bat is perhaps the highlight of England’s batting woes in the last one year or so. The former England skipper had managed to silence his critics after slamming 244 not out at the MCG during the Ashes towards the end of 2017. But that performance has been sandwiched between a string of poor performances.

England’s highest Test run-scorer is averaging a poor 19 in Tests this year. It is his lowest a yearly average since he began his Test career with a splendid ton in India in 2006.

Cook has scored just one fifty in 14 innings since the double century in the Ashes Test. His struggles have further extended in the ongoing series.

This series, he has managed just 80 runs from five innings, with a top score of 29, leaving him with an average of just 16.

There are question marks over his participation in the fourth Test with his wife due to give birth to their third child. However, Cook can also play the game if circumstances allow him to. Cook’s absence will be a huge blow for the hosts due to their fragile batting order. It has been further compounded by the struggles of their openers. Keaton Jennings has also continued to struggle at the top.

But amidst all this, Root has thrown his support behind his predecessor.

“He’s a world-class performer. He’s proven that time and time again. And actually I’d like you to write him off because every time he’s written off he comes back and scores a double hundred.

“We have to be realistic about these things. You look at both sides, both top orders have struggled and it might be that’s the case again in Southampton. There’s no-one with more experience currently in Test cricket than him. So I’m sure he will be calling upon all of that going into that game and giving himself the best chance,” said Root.

He also stood up for Cook when asked if the left-hander had the hunger and desire to make it through to next summer’s Ashes.  At the same time, Root admitted that any decision will depend on Cook himself.

“I do, yes (believe Cook has the passion to play next year), but ultimately you’d have to speak to him about that. You never really know what someone is thinking if you’re being brutally honest about things but you watch him apply himself in training and go about his practice on the morning of every game, the way he speaks on the field, the way he speaks to the batters around the group and offers his experience it doesn’t look like someone who is thinking about jacking it in. He seems very much dedicated to helping this team and scoring as many runs as he can,” he said.