Bopara says Cook has worked hard to improve as ODI batsman

Dubai, Feb 17 : England all rounder Ravi Bopara has said Essex team mate and England one-day captain Alastair Cook has worked hard to improve himself as a batsman in the shorter format of the game.

Several former England cricketers had criticized Cook in the past for not being fit for the shorter version of the game. But Bopara believes Cook’s strong will to play in the one-day internationals for England has finally reaped rewards.

“I saw everything Cooky was doing at Essex a couple of years ago to make himself a better one-day batsman. He was in the nets with Graham Gooch practising hitting sixes and he has put in so much work,” The Sun quoted Bopara, as saying.

While Cook has scored two brilliant hundreds against Pakistan, Bopara has also contributed with a pair of fifties, as England leads the one-day series 2-0 with two matches to play.

He said Cook’s recent one day performances against Pakistan has proved that you don’t need to hit big sixes every time to succeed in the fifty over format. “Cooky doesn''t smash sixes, but his placement, with his cut shots and sweeps, make a difference,” he said.

“It shows you don''t have to slog sixes to score at a high rate. If you can place the ball well and your running is good, you can put teams under pressure,” he added.