Added responsibility may have helped my batting: Alastair Cook

With fit-again Steven Finn raring to go, Cook said England were looking forward to the pacer's comeback.

"It's great that he is now back fully fit. He's got a little more pace than the other guys. He's bowled well in the sub-continent, especially in the One-dayers before."

Speaking about the turning tracks, Cook said, "As I said in Mumbai it gave us a great chance of winning, because it was a result wicket. On the very flat ones, it's very hard to get a result. Mumbai proved with a turning track that it gives both sides a chance to win.

"I'm not quite sure how this (Eden Gardens) wicket will play. It won't have the bounce of Mumbai. As reports say it will turn from the third day, so both teams can bring spinners into the game."

Meanwhile, Cook extended his support to Jonathan Trott, who is going through a lean patch with two ducks in two Tests.

"Trott averages (about) 50 in Test cricket. He scored over 700 runs this year alone. I have seen him practice really hard. You can't always score runs though that's what we'd like it to be. So you stay tough and the runs will come," stressed Cook.

Paying glowing tributes to Ricky Ponting, England skipper Alastair Cook today described the just-retired former Australian captain as one of the greatest batsmen.

Recalling the 2006 Ashes series, Cook said, "I can't really sum up on what he has achieved. As a batsman alone, he's among the best batters I've seen. We just could not get him out in 2006."

The just-concluded Perth Test against South Africa was Ponting's last and the 37-year old's retirement address was held yesterday.

"He hits the ball as cleanly as I have ever seen a cricket ball being hit. As a player of fast bowling, he had all the time in the world," Cook added.

... contd.

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