Alastair Cook's return to fitness provides England's selectors with an intriguing dilemma for tonight's fourth NatWest Series match against New Zealand. A shoulder injury prevented Cook from being considered for the opening three matches and his recovery coincides with England's dreadful batting display in Bristol last weekend, as
they fell 22 runs short of the Black Caps' modest 182.
The choice of the selectors will give a strong indication of the tactics England want to employ as they attempt to find a formula that can win them a major limited-over tournament. Cook is not a dasher, as a one-day strike rate of 68 runs per 100 balls faced suggests, but he is consistent. He was England's highest one-day run scorer in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, scoring 339 runs in 10 matches.
The dilemma for England is do they return to the days when a steady but limited specialist test opener was employed, or attempt to follow the example set by other countries, who position an attacking and powerful stroke-player at the top of the order?
For the remaining two matches of the series, they are likely to carry on as they are, with Ian Bell and Luke Wright looking to take the match to the opposition.
- INDEPENDENT
