Cook remains captain despite coup from former skippers

It seems that England cricketer Alastair Cook and famous 18th century explorer (and namesake) James have more than captaincy and being masters in their respective fields in common. The latter was stabbed to death by native Hawaiians, while the former is currently the victim of a less drastic and more metaphorical coup and back-stabbing from ex-national skippers.

The likes of past England captains Michael Vaughan, Sir Ian Botham, Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain have all called for Cook to stand down – and even Geoffrey Boycott agrees with them!

This comes after England’s uninspiring performances, particularity in Tests, since being whitewashed by Australia in the Ashes in early 2014. They then lost to Sri Lanka at home and are currently 1-0 down after two encounters in a five-match series against India, also on home soil, with Cook once again failing with the bat and his side collapsing at Lord’s.

Despite overwhelming calls for Cook to be replaced as captain, coach Peter Moores has decided to stick with his man for the third Test, that starts on July 27th – where England are still 6/4 favourites to win.

Former captain Vaughan, though, who steered England to their first Ashes win in 18 years in 2005, reckons Test part-timer Eoin Morgan would be a better fit. Irish-born occasional one day skipper Morgan is 6/1 joint third-favourite to be next permanent captain in the longest form of the game.

“It is probably the right thing for him, the person, to be taken away from the England captaincy,” Vaughan said. “Morgan has fresh eyes, a new approach. It can’t be any worse.”

The Yorkshireman even went on to suggest that Cook, who has now gone more than a year and 27 innings without a Test ton, temporarily takes a break from the game.

“Go and spend four or five months away from cricket,” Vaughan added. “He’s 29 years of age, he’s been in this environment for eight years non-stop. That takes its toll as a player never mind with the captaincy burden as well.”

Another England hero captain, Botham, wrote in a tabloid blog: “The burden of captaincy is definitely weighing Alastair Cook down. In my opinion he needs a break from the job and the game.