Cook must stamp authority on dressing room

The temporary nature of Alastair Cook's tenure as England captain in Bangladesh makes it a delicate proposition, writes Stephen Brenkley in the Independent, but if he can tackle that now it will make it easier for him later on when a permanent successor is being sought.

It is important that Cook not be judged one jot on his performances in media briefings, where he is not exactly unhelpful but is not revealing either. Few of his predecessors have shone brightly before the damn-fool questions of the fourth estate and others seemed to make it their business to be as dull and awkward as possible. Only Nasser Hussain of recent vintage has bloomed both in press conferences and dressing room. But it is the dressing room where Cook must initially stamp his personality and authority, and if he does that the rest will follow.