Result in Home Series Won't Matter in India, Says Alastair Cook


Hyderabad, Oct 5 (IANS): England captain Alastair Cook feels the convincing win over India back home last month will not mean much when they face the World Champions in their own backyard.

The visitors don't consider themselves favourites and are looking forward to what he described as a "very different challenge".

"I don't know too much about the favourites or anything like that. We know it is going to be a very different challenge. I don't see any relation between what happened in England and what is going to happen here in India," Cook said at a press conference here Wednesday.

"Historically, India have a stronger side at home. We have got an extremely tough challenge on our hands."

The visitors, who arrived here Tuesday, will play two warm-up matches against the local team Oct 8 and 11 before the first One-day International against India here Oct 14.

Cook also did not see any difference in the Indian team which played in England and the team which he would be facing here. "It is a similar team. As we saw in England they are hugely talented side and very dangerous in home conditions," he said.

The English skipper did not agree that the Indian bowling is weak. "When you take out players like Zaheer (Khan) and Harbhajan (Singh) you lose a bit of experience. They might be inexperienced in terms of international games but experienced in terms of local conditions and that is going to be the most important thing."

"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to perform. We are not bothered what is said about us. We concentrate on our game and what we try to achieve," he remarked when asked if there would be pressure of expectations on the team after its test and one-day series victories against India.

"Playing the World Champions in their backyard, the great support the public gives to one-day cricket here and playing in front of a huge crowd is a great occasion for an English side. We are looking forward to it," he said when asked if he feels the series is too early after the two teams faced each other only last month.

Cook said Tim Bresnan would lead the bowling attack in the absence of James Anderson. He pointed out Anderson was rested as part of long-term strategy while Stuart Broad was injured. "They are two world-class and very experienced people players but others will stand up. Bresnon is now leader of our attack and he is looking forward to that challenge. Others will step up as well."

The England captain feels heat would not be a problem for the team as it knows how to cope with the conditions around the world every time it plays.

On the dew factor in the day-night matches, he said it would be the same for both teams. "We are not too sure how it will be at each venue. We have to cross that bridge when we get there."

Cook was also not sure how the new International Cricket Council rules would affect the conditions. "I think whichever team is going to adapt quickly will have the advantage."

Supporting the Decision Review System, he said the team enjoyed it. "You get the decisions right with DRS," he added.

  

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Title: Result in Home Series Won't Matter in India, Says Alastair Cook



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