Cook impresses new one-day opening partner

Cook’s strike rate of almost 127 in his unbeaten 95, as England levelled the NatWest Series at 2-2, made a mockery of pundits who labelled him a ‘plodder’ and questioned his ability to adapt his batting to the requirements of one-day international cricket.

Kieswetter, billed as England’s pinch-hitter, quickly realised he need do nothing of the sort.

Instead, he mostly looked on as Cook crashed 16 fours from 75 balls to dominate England’s race past a modest target of 171 in under half the 48 overs at their disposal to set up a series decider at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Kieswetter belatedly stirred himself to some late hitting and finished with 72 not out in England’s 10-wicket victory.

England’s limited-overs wicketkeeper-batsman has forged his career in the shadow of Trescothick at Somerset, where the former Test and ODI opener has continued – since having to retire from international cricket – to dismantle county attacks in all formats.

Asked about similarities between Trescothick and Cook, in his present form, Kieswetter said of the latter: “He certainly hits the ball as hard as he does, and is just as calm in the middle.”

England’s opening pair completed their work, with Cook just short of a second ODI hundred in four days – after his more obdurate innings in defeat at Lord’s.

Cook’s embryonic ODI captaincy has begun with a chorus of doubts about whether, despite his impeccable Test form of the past 12 months, he has it in him to score quickly enough often enough in the 50-over game.

Kieswetter said: “He is performing exceptionally well but he understands he needs to put a long run in to get rid of the critics.

“It is not about proving critics wrong; it is about trying to help England win games of cricket, and the management and players have massively bought into this ethos and drive for what is best for English cricket. We lost a couple of games, but to bounce back like we did shows a selflessness from everyone in the team.”