Alastair Cook answers your questions
During the course of the summer Test series between England and the West Indies and India, we invited fans to post their questions to Alastair.
We've posted a selection of the best below - thanks for taking part!
Adam Dunmore: Who was your cricketing hero as a child?
AC: Graham Gooch.
Henry McNee: How easy did you find scoring runs at school level? You had an average of about 160 for Bedford!
AC: Well it’s never easy scoring runs but I just seemed to get a lot! Whatever level you play at, you make one mistake and you can get out.
Suzy Preston: What’s your favourite ground in the world to play on?
AC: Lord’s.
Steve Green: I’m a club batsman and would like some advice on choosing a new bat. I’m 6ft, 13 stone and a top order player.
AC: It really all depends on personal preference and what feels good in your hands. With some heavier bats you don’t have to time the ball as sweetly but you might not be able to get in position to play the short balls well. If you’re not sure I wouldn’t go too heavy but middle of the range, maybe around 2lbs9oz.
Tom Scott: Is there anybody in the England team you prefer batting with out in the middle?
AC: No. I’m not fussed who’s at the other end. I have to concentrate on my own game.
Adrian Robertson: Who’s the best Test bowler you’ve yet faced?
AC: Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Ben Massey: Do you have a nickname in the England dressing room?
AC: Cookie and Chef.
Philip Addlestone: Who’s the biggest joker in the England dressing room?
AC: Liam Plunkett.
Shermeen Ahmed: What would you have been if you weren’t a cricketer?
AC: I’m only 22 so I’d still be a student!
Wayne Griffin: Do you think cricket should be promoted more in schools than it is? It still seems too much of a public school game.
AC: Football’s always going to be the number one sport in this country but I think cricket needs to be played in all schools in the summer and there are a lot of good new initiatives about such as Urban Cricket so it’s a good way to spend an afternoon in the summer.
Sheila Foulkes: Do you ever get nervous before you go out to bat?
AC: Yes, every time! But it’s good to be nervous as it focuses the mind and gets the adrenaline going.
