Appointing Alastair Cook as England's ODI Captain Could be Downfall for Andy Flower?

That is the surmise of the former England captain, Tony Grieg, voicing what a few have described as a surprise captaincy call up for Alastair Cook.

alastair cook andrew strauss

Alastair Cook has been the star of the Ashes 2010-'11 after suffering a slump prior to it, with even the suggestion that the England cricket team could have dropped the opener for the Test series altogether. As it turned out, Cook proved to the batting powerhouse for England as England won the Ashes back to back in an historic moment.

However, Cook's heroics in the Ashes failed to secure for him a spot in England's ODI team against Australia in the ODI series that followed. That was further established as England's ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 squad had no place for the Test opener who has been dubbed best for the longer version of the game. The only time Cook has had a chance last for England in ODIs was when he captained England in Bangladesh a year back.

ECB's decision to appoint three England captains for the three formats is being interpreted as a decision masterminded by Andy Flower, the England coach who was retained in the face of an offer from the Indian cricket team to succeed Gary Kirsten.

Tony Grieg is only voicing a concern that many have had since the decision was made public. While Cook's abilities are not to be underrated, the decision to elevate him directly as the England ODI captain without giving him time to fall into the scheme of things in the England ODI team feels rushed. In Grieg's opinion, Andrew Strauss could have been retained for a year in which time Cook would have been given time to settle down in the team and thereafter, prove his capabilities. That would have been a worthy plan.

However, it appears England are decided to adopting a fresh approach following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 where the team returned with mixed results despite making the quarterfinals. While Grieg believes that Andy Flower is not only behind the decision but that he may have made his first big blunder for England, there is disgruntlement not only in the case of Cook's appointment but also, with Paul Collingwood shocked at being relieved of the England Twenty20 captaincy and the baton passed onto Stuart Broad, against whom other former England captains are concerned his bad image could catch up with him if he does not restrain himself.

In the process of this three way captaincy, there is also concern if Strauss' authority as the England Test captain will get diluted, something even Flower has admitted to not being able to assess with definitiveness but one that England would try as they hope to touch the pinnacle of the sport.