London: England Test and one-day captain Alastair Cook has claimed his team has good enough players in their arsenal to win the Test series in India without their best batsman Kevin Pietersen.
Since 1985, England has managed to win just one Test match in India, but Cook claimed the team would head into the series with intent to win it.
“We know the challenge facing us, but I`m not looking to take a side out there saying, ``It`s such a hard place to win away from home, we`re going to lose,” a daily quoted Cook, as saying.
“We`re going out there to win the series. We know India have an amazing home record, but we have nothing to fear. If we play as well as we can, I see no reason why we can`t go out there and win,” he added.
Cook, however hinted broadly, that he would like Pietersen restored to the fold before next summer`s Ashes, saying: “It`s sad that we have reached this situation, but hopefully time will be a healer and we will be able to move on.”
“Kevin is a proven world-class performer in all forms of the game and, in an ideal world, it is a given that you would want him in your side. But there are issues with Kevin which has yet to be resolved, and for the best possible outcome those will remain private,” he added.
“But this is a new era - because Andrew Strauss is no longer captain - and we have to look forward, not back. This trip is a great opportunity for some younger players to make their mark,” he said.
ANI
First Published: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 14:07