Cook confident of victory

15 March 2008

Alastair Cook

See Paul Collingwood at the post-play press conference and the full day three report on ECBtv

Batsman Alastair Cook claims England should now be able to finish off New Zealand in the second Test in Wellington.

The tourists are favourites to complete a series-levelling victory having reached the close of the third day 421 runs ahead on 277 for nine in their second innings.

Cook, who weighed in with 60, believes the lead should now be big enough to press for the win.

“Yes, definitely,” he said. “When you lose a toss and you’re put in on a wicket and you come to the fourth day with a lead of 420, you’re very happy about it.

“If we can go out and bowl like we did in the first innings hopefully we’ll level the series.

“Our key is to rest up tonight and then when we come out tomorrow, bowl exactly like we did in the first innings.”

England found the going slow at times due to some disciplined New Zealand bowling but with Paul Collingwood adding 59 and Andrew Strauss 44, they ground the hosts down.

Cook hopes England’s attack of James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad can bowl in the same manner to finish off the game.

“We just wanted to go and play positive cricket, not getting too stuck,” he said.

“If you don’t get it quite right on that wicket you can hit fours but if you can put it in the right areas you have to respect that.

“If Jimmy and Ryan can really bang it in those right areas we’ve got a great chance of levelling the series.”

Cook admitted, however, that the lack of centuries from England’s top six is now becoming a concern.

England have managed only five centuries in the last eight Test matches.

“You take any runs but if you get 40 or 60 and you don’t go on it is disappointing,” he said.

“It’s strange, just one of those little ruts at the moment. I don’t think it’s something we need to panic about but it is an area we need to address.

“We are addressing it but we need to go out there and deliver it.”