Ashes 2015: England captain Alastair Cook vows to go on attack to secure win

England skipper Alastair Cook has vowed to showcase an aggressive brand of captaincy in a bid to wrestle the urn from the grasp of bitter Ashes rivals Australia.

 

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On the eve of today’s First Investec Test at Cardiff, both captains appeared to douse talk of a sedate showdown. Cook stressed the importance of attack-minded cricket, while counterpart Michael Clarke talked up the menacing form of his main strike bowler, Mitchell Johnson.

 

Cook’s captaincy has been under constant scrutiny ever since the left-handed opener took the reins from predecessor Andrew Strauss in August 2012, while his tactics have at times been criticised for being bland and conservative.

 

But with a new-found team outlook that reflects a more offensive mindset, like that on show during the Test and one-day series against New Zealand earlier this summer, Cook admits he needs to move with the times.

 

“There is a lot written about my captaincy and it is important I sometimes get on the front foot,” said Cook.

 

“If you look back at previous teams, they were more methodical. Maybe there’s more opportunity to be on the front foot with the players we’ve got now. As a leader of a group you probably have to change your style of leadership to the players you’ve got in the changing room and what gets the best out of them.”

 

Australia have failed to win a series in this country since 2001, although England’s last taste of the Ashes was a harrowing experience. 

 

Read more: England must complete biggest form reversal for two decades to beat Australia

 

The tourists returned from Australia on the receiving end of a 5-0 hammering during the winter of 2013-14. 

 

That bruising encounter has the potential to haunt a number of the England players set to take the field this morning, although Cook is adamant that his side’s future cannot be dictated by the past.

 

“The most important thing to remember is that’s gone. You cannot keep harping on about that,” he added. “Cricket’s not played on paper, it’s not played on what happened two years ago, it’s about what happens tomorrow and for the next 25 days from there.”

 

England’s tormentor-in-chief during the disastrous Ashes tour 18 months ago was left-arm paceman Johnson, who took 37 wickets at under 14 runs apiece, and consistently terrorised the visitors with spells of fierce and intimidating bowling.

 

Despite his performance during Australia’s tour of England in 2009 being much more erratic – Johnson claimed 20 wickets at an average of 32.55 – Clarke was warned the 33-year-old’s detractors that he is looking ominously dangerous.

 

“He is as ready as I’ve seen him,” he said. “He’s bowling as fast as I’ve faced in the nets and he’s swinging it. He’s not fun to face. People doubt how well he can bowl in these conditions, and that’s given him that fire in his belly.”

 

Player	Role	Age	Tests	Batting av.	High score	Wickets	Bowl av.
Chris Rogers	Batsman	37	20	39.35	119	–	–
David Warner	Batsman	28	38	46.82	180	–	–
Shane Watson	All rounder	24	58	35.40	176	75	33.05
Steve Smith	Batsman/spinner	26	28	56.23	199	15	51.73
Michael Clarke (c)	Batsman	34	110	50.66	329*	–	–
Mitchell Marsh	All rounder	23	4	37.42	87	1	164
Brad Haddin	Wicketkeeper	37	65	33.32	169	–	–
Mitchell Johnson	Seamer	33	66	22.80	123*	291	27.58
Josh Hazlewood	Seamer	24	5	47.50	39	24	19.08
Mitchell Starc	Seamer	25	17	27.27	99	60	32.20
Nathan Lyon	Off-spinner	27	41	15.07	40*	146	34.73
Adam Voges	Batsman	35	2	167	130*	–	–
Shaun Marsh	Batsman	31	12	35.79	148	–	–