Graeme Thorpe says Alastair Cook should not be axed
13/08/2010
Graeme Thorpe has urged selectors not to drop Alastair Cook ahead of the third England v Pakistan Test match.
Cook has had a tough summer with the bat, amassing just 41 runs in four innings during the first two games of the Pakistan series.
Despite this lean stretch, former England star and fellow left-hander Thorpe described the 25-year-old as a "class act" and said he should be retained in the side.
Writing for Yahoo! Eurosport, Thorpe backed Cook to shine in the third England v Pakistan Test match at the Brit Insurance Oval, stating: "I think he will thrive on a wicket with greater bounce."
He added: "England must show that they are committed to this group of cricketers and place trust in them."
However, if the selectors do decide to wield the axe, the pundit argued that they should promote current number three Jonathan Trott to open the batting, rather than looking outside the current squad for a replacement.
Posted by Liz Johnstone