Alastair Cook hopes his 'ODI stroke play heroics' will silence his critics

London, July 7 : England skipper Alastair Cook reckons he has shown his critics that he has the skills to be a successful batsman in one-day cricket after a powerful exhibition of stroke play in the fourth match against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge. 

Cook scored 95 not out off 75 balls as the hosts cruised to their rain-revised target of 171 with 10 wickets and more than 24 overs to spare.

The innings took Cook’s tally for the five-match ODI series to 267 runs at an average of 89.

“It is reward for all the hard work I have put in. I have always known I can play the one-day game and it has just been a matter of proving it to people,” The Telegraph quoted Cook, as saying.

“You always have to prove yourself, but if I can keep batting like that with that tempo, which I think I have showed in this series, then it will hold me in good stead,” he added.

The 26-year-old further revealed that fellow opener Craig Kieswetter had offered to engineer the opportunity for him to get a hundred, but as captain he put the team first.

“Everyone enjoys a red inker [a not out] so it was pleasing to see Craig hit a six and a two to win the game.  He asked about it. He said, ‘shall I look for ones or hit a six?’. So he hit a six, which is fair enough,” Cook said.

“It is the team that is important, not personal milestones,” he added.

The fifth and final ODI of the series will be played at Old Trafford on Saturday.