Cook backs Compton and Woakes to shine against Sri Lanka

[JUGRAJ SINGH]

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Alastair Cook has given his backing to the duo of Chris Woakes and Nick Compton ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street, starting on Friday (May 27). However, he also agreed that both of them need to put up noteworthy performances to cement their places in the England Test side.

Woakes made his first-class debut for Warwickshire against West Indies 'A' in 2006 and two years later, he came into the prominence with a five-wicket haul against Glamorgan in the County Championship. Since then, he has been a consistent performer in County cricket with both bat and ball.

He has also been in prime form this season and a few days back, took his career-best first-class figures of 9 for 36 against Durham. However, he has struggled to make his mark in Test cricket. He has taken a mere eight wickets in six Tests at an average of 63.75. On his part, Cook is optimistic that Woakes can deliver the goods.

"He is another one of those guys we have not seen the best of in international cricket," Cook said. "There is no doubt in my mind that facing him in the nets, seeing him bowl for Warwickshire or knowing his character that he has a lot going for him. He is really respected.

"He just needs that performance to make him feel settled in the side and help him feel he belongs in international cricket. I have no doubt about that. I am really excited about him playing and he has the next couple of games with Ben Stokes out. He can make future selection really hard."

Cook also noted that Jake Ball, the tall Nottinghamshire seamer, was close to making it to the final XI. Ball has snared 21 wickets at an impressive average of 22.28 in the 2016 County Championship. However, England have a tendency to pick all-rounders. Thus, Woakes replaced the injured Ben Stokes in the playing XI.

"We enjoy playing with this balance of the side," Cook said. "We know Stokes balances the side really well, but he could get injured [again] and obviously we need the competition in that all-rounder place.

"Stokes is going to be a big loss for us. However, injuries are part and parcel of a side and we need to know we can play without him. Chris (Woakes) has that opportunity to fill the all-rounder role and Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow go up a spot in the batting, so it gives them more of an opportunity."

Meanwhile, England's No. 3 batsman, Nick Compton, has found runs hard to come by. The 32-year-old top-order batsman also admitted that he is playing for his place in the team. Commenting on Compton's poor form, Cook had words of encouragement and pointed to Compton's fine first-class record to indicate that he is a proven performer.

"It's quite refreshing he has come out and said it in one way," Cook said. "You are always under pressure playing for England because of the competition for places. People want to take his place. That is the nature of the beast.

"We know he is a good player," he noted. "There's no doubt about that, you see his record in first-class cricket over the past five years, he is right up there in the run-scorer's chart. He made an important 80-odd in South Africa in tough conditions, he battled hard and set up that win, and he scored two hundreds already so he can play at this level."
 
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