Cook will prove to be a formidable opponent to Clarke: Law

Sydney: A close observer of English cricket, Stuart Law, has said England’s new captain, Alastair Cook would prove a formidable opponent to his Australian counterpart Michael Clarke in next year’s Ashes series.

Cook was a natural choice to replace Andrew Strauss, having led the one-day side to 19 wins in 30 matches, and averaging 49.85 with the bat in that time. If some Australians regarded him as a weak link leading into the last Ashes, 766 runs later they were forced into a radical reassessment. Law, who now coaches at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence, said Cook had time to restore calm after a tumultuous month during which England surrendered their No.1 ranking, axed their best batsman and changed captains. “If he puts into his captaincy what he puts into his batting, he is going to be a hard man to ruffle, and that`s what you want. His main challenge won`t be on the field, it will be in the dressing room, and that seems to have given Straussy a few headaches of late,” Law said. Before England’s Ashes defence, Cook has to sort out the Kevin Pietersen mess, then lead the Test and one-day teams to India and New Zealand. ANI