Alastair Cook Has Director's Backing

Alastair Cook has got the backing of England team director Andy Flower after another poor performance at the crease during England's comfortable win over Pakistan.

Cook has been short of runs so far this year and could only manage seventeen and then four as England cruised to a straight forward win over the visitors yesterday.

However Flower reveals that he has every confidence in Cook to come good. Speaking to Sky Sports after England's win he said: "He has had a hard time just recently (but) all players will go through these hard times at certain points in their career.

"He is working hard at his game and might tinker with a couple things over the next few days. I'm sure he'll come good - he's got a very good (overall) record, he's only 25 years old and has a lot of experience now.

"I expect him to come good."

England were chasing a target of 118 when captain Andrew Strauss and Cook stepped onto the field to bat for the second time yesterday morning.

And Pakistan may have seen a glimmer of hope when Cook fell for just four runs but it wasn't to be as Strauss and Trott formed a solid partnership that steered England to a 2-0 win over Pakistan.

England will be back in action at the Oval on 18th August.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw