Alastair Cook defeated but not down

Searching for runs, desperate for a win and saddled with defeats, it isn’t easy being Alastair Cook.

The England captain walked in a touch distraught but he masked his emotions and while squaring up to the media that constantly questioned him about his position within the team, he admitted after a pause and through measured words: “I haven’t had any tougher time than this but I don’t think walking away will solve this.”

Reacting to one of the few questions that probed the larger picture of England’s defeat and the manner in which its batsmen hooked and pulled their way towards disaster against India, Cook replied: “It is a high-risk strategy and it didn’t come off.”

The interrogation reverted to his role again and Cook conceded that he did introspect about his position.

“You always have your thoughts when it gets tough. I am still here and I still want to throw it all in as the England captain.

“I am determined. It is getting tougher and tougher. The moment I score, the results will change.

“It is a tough job when you lose, it is tougher when you ain’t scoring.

“If and when we turn this around and we win a game then that moment will make us feel better about these tough times,” he said.

That this series will make or break his career was made evident when Cook tiredly said: “As long as my position becomes untenable, I will continue.

“By the end of this series if I ain’t scoring and the results aren’t coming then it becomes tougher, isn’t it? It makes me more determined to win this series. I am desperate to carry on.”