Alastair Cook's Last Hope of Salvation - The Ashes

Three years ago, he was considered one of the best in the traditional form of the game. Many even suggested that he might go on to break Sachin Tendulkar's record of most Test runs. When Alastair Cook wielded the willow, it seemed he could do no wrong. Three centuries in four games on the turning tracks of India had all but stamped his class among the all-time greats. His leadership qualities which enabled England to win their first Test series in India since 1984-85 were looked upon favourably and he was the man to usher England into a whole new era. (Also read: England face Ashes acid test)

 

That was 2012.

 

Fast-forward to 2015, a new and less rosy picture is painted of Cook - both as a leader and a batsman. Stripped off the ODI captaincy just before the World Cup, Cook's place in the side has come under enormous scrutiny. Experts are questioning if he is the right man to lead England in Tests anymore. Critics have gone a step further and wonder why he should be in the team at all. While Cook the skipper and Cook the player seem two different enigmas, they have one common factor. As time has shown over the years, one invariably affects the other. With his aura falling apart, Cook could be left clutching at the straws as he drowns in the sea of uncertainty. However, one such straw may pull him out of troubled waters and bring him back his long, lost glory. It is known as the Holy Grail of Test cricket, a rivalry that has been the signature of two teams for the last 133 years - The Ashes. Also read: Injury forces Ryan Harris to retire | Will Moeen's spin hurt Aussies?)

 

For England and Australia, there is no greater stage. For a player of both teams, there is no greater honour than doing well on the biggest platform Test cricket has to offer. If Cook can lead England to an Ashes victory, it could be the perfect response to those trying to put - and pull - him down. One must remember, it was under his captaincy that England retained the Ashes in 2013.

 

Come July 8, Cook will not just be captaining eleven players, but will be leading them. The stakes just got higher for the 30-year-old left-hander as it could be a make-or-break series. While Cook has been getting flak from former cricketers to step down, he has stood his ground. The selectors may have a final say, depending which way the pendulum swings.

 

The last couple of years have taken a lot out of Cook - both as a skipper and a batsman. The Kevin Pietersen saga has put him in the news for all the wrong reasons. The pressure generated from the sacking of the 35-year-old dashing batsman is bound to affect him as it was rumoured that Cook had threatened to quit if Pietersen retunred to the English side. Ironically, Pietersen's last series for England was in The Ashes and it was their crucial partnerships which helped England win in India - the series which put Cook right up with the best.

Form, however, was temporary. A sudden slump resulted in Cook going 35 innings without a century. With tons against West Indies and New Zealand though, he has regained some of his prowess, but The Ashes is a totally different ballgame.

So as The Ashes gets underway, Cook will be battling his own demons even as the two teams clash against each other. However, if class is anything to go by - something he displayed in his very first Test in the heat of Nagpur, the weight of The Ashes might just be the spark Cook needs to find his salvation.

Pride comes before the fall. What follows is the path to redemption. Cook is at that point in his career where taking a step back is equivalent to calling it quits. He may be a lot of things, but he is certainly not one to back off from a fight. Ample proof is his 235 in the 2010-11 Ashes when he rescued England from certain defeat in the first Test. It was a result that boosted their confidence to win the series 3-1. The man always has a sense of occasion and the Ashes series beckons him to deliver.