ENG vs Ind 2018: Ed Smith suggests England advisory role for Alastair Cook

Ed Smith is in talks with Cook for a role in the national set up post his retirement from international cricket.

Cook along with Bayliss and Smith | Getty Images

Ed Smith, England national selector, is still keen on using Alastair Cook’s expertise even after his retirement from international cricket, as he wants to offer him an advisory role in the English set up. 

The 33-year-old opener, who is playing his last international match against India at home in the final Test at The Oval, announced last week that he will retire from the game. He will continue to play county cricket for Essex. 

Smith further added that "it would be terrific" if the English set-up were able to dip into Alastair Cook Cook's knowledge and experience after his retirement.

On being asked if he would like to entail Cook in the future as a batting coach or in some other role with England, the head of England selectors said that he had a chat with the former England skipper regarding the same. 

Smith told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek, “I'm not sure about what he wants to do -- he's going to play for Essex for a while. He may just look at his options. I think it would be terrific for England cricket to tap into him as a resource. I've had the odd chat with him about bowlers and batters this summer but next year maybe we'll have something a bit more formal where he comes and really advises.”

The national selector also believes that Cook had a lot to offer the national side as a player and human being, as Cook has won admirers over the years with his calm determination, down-to-earth attitude and a good-guy persona apart from being England’s most prolific Test batsman.

He signed off by saying, “He's had so many games as captain, a record there, as a player he's the record run-scorer in history, and he's a calm, balanced and fair person, so I think we've got to try to tap into that knowledge and wisdom without a doubt. It doesn't have to be necessarily that structured but someone people know they can talk to as a trusted advisor.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 10 Sep, 2018

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