England clear cloud over captain Cook’s discomfort

He appeared to be in extreme discomfort when he went out to open the innings, too, barely breaking into a trot between the wickets, but injury concerns over the key batsman are played down.

England's Alastair Cook looked laboured in his running between the wickets on Day 4 in Dubai against Pakistan on October 25, 2015. Jason O'Brien / Action Images

DUBAI // England played down any injury concerns surrounding Alastair Cook at the close of Day 4 of the second Test.

The captain, who batted for around 14 hours in the opening game in Abu Dhabi last week, was laboured while fielding in Pakistan’s second innings.

He appeared to be in extreme discomfort when he went out to open the innings, too, barely breaking into a trot between the wickets.

Speculation suggested it may be a groin strain or a back injury, but Paul Farbrace, the assistant coach, said there was little reason for alarm

“I’m not aware of any injury, other than the fact that I think the amount of hours he’s spent hunched over a bat handle scoring thousands of runs,” Farbrace said.

“He never looks the best mover, anyway, so I’ve never really seen him flying around. That’s why he’s made such a great success at slip catching.

“But obviously with the whack on the hand he got [Cook split the webbing between the fingers of his left hand in Abu Dhabi] he’s been out of the slips.

“Perhaps it has shown up a little bit more because he’s not been in the slips as often in this game.”

Cook’s presence in the XI in Sharjah for next week’s final Test will be crucial for the away side, given how many players’ roles are being questioned - including his new opening partner Moeen Ali.

“I’d like to think that, when we have given someone an opportunity to do something we have stuck with them for a period of time,” Farbrace said.

“We haven’t been chopping and changing. I think that is something Trevor [Bayliss, the England coach] has been very keen on.

“I’d like to think Cookie and Trevor wouldn’t have given Mo the opportunity if they didn’t think he was capable. We know he needs runs, but every player is in the same situation.”

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