Cook rubbishes complacency talks ahead of New Zealand series ? Cricket News Update
England skipper Alastair Cook, on Wednesday said that they will not take New Zealand as an easy opposition in the just to begin two-match Test series, commencing at Lord?s on Thursday, May 16, 2013.
Cook and Co was accused of complacency during their trip to New Zealand in March this year, where they failed to win even a single match in the three-Test series, despite being the favourites, finishing the series 0-0. Cook, however, did not agree that his side took the Black Caps lightly in that series, though he agreed they had not played as well as they could have.
?I don't think we were complacent at all,? Cook said at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.?
?I don't think anyone who saw our build-up, or was involved in our build-up, would. I don't think there was complacency around, but we didn't play as well as we could have done: that's the bottom line,? insisted the home skipper.
The left-handed top order batsman also urged his players to be at their best in the just to begin two-Test home series against Brendon McCullum and Co.
?I think every Test series you play for England is a hugely important series, it doesn't matter what has gone before,? said the 28-year-old Gloucestershire batsman.
?We are fully focused on these two weeks of Test cricket versus New Zealand. We have to be at our best to win,? he added further.
Cook, who took over as England?s Test skipper in September last year, after Andrew Strauss retired from international cricket, was also happy to see ace spinner Graeme Swann and right-arm medium pacer Tim Bresnan returning to the squad for the New Zealand series, and hoped the duo?s return will give England?s bowling attack a cutting edge which they lacked during their trip to New Zealand.
Both Swann and Bresnan underwent elbow surgeries earlier this year, and were last declared fit for the opening Test against the Black Caps.
?It's great to have Graeme fully fit after his elbow surgery; you want your best players available,? said Cook, a veteran of 64 One Day Internationals.
?It's obviously great to have Bressie back. His elbow surgery has gone well. ?I think you miss every experienced player who doesn't play. You can't buy experience,? concluded the English skipper.
The first Test of the two match series will be played at Lord?s from May 16 to 20, while the second five-dayer will be hosted by Leeds from May 24.
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