Filed under: Cricket, England Cricket, Tests
Almost a year ago, Alastair Cook was wondering whether he had an immediate Test match future as he struggled against Bangladesh and Pakistan.There was a queue of critics jostling for position at the head of the line to proclaim it was time the left-hander was given a break from international cricket.
He was not in the right frame of mind to go to Australia for the winter's Ashes series and selecting him would give England a blatant Achilles heel for Ricky Ponting and Co to exploit and avenge their defeat in 2009.
The SOS was going round the counties to find a potential replacement to partner Andrew Strauss at the top of the innings and Ian Bell was being talked about as a potential opener.
Even Cook's hundred in the final game of the Test series against Waqar Younis' side, which in retrospect probably earned him a place on the plane to Australia, was deemed too little, too late, by some of his fiercest critics.
So to see Cook's name on the short-list for the ICC's LG Player of the Year Award just goes to underline what a stellar 12-months the Middlesex batsman has enjoyed.
Cook joins England team mate Jonathan Trott and Sachin Tendulkar and Hashim Amla as the four nominated for the award and it would be a travesty of justice if he is not presented with the award at a gala event in London on September 12.
Of course the other candidates have claims and very strong ones. None more so than Trott, who has looked to the manor born from the moment he stepped into the Test arena.
Amla has been hugely consistent for South Africa and outshone luminaries such as Jacques Kallis and AB De Villiers.
In fact, of the four, Tendulkar probably has the weakest claim for the award and his standing will only have been weakened by his poor performances for India in England this summer.
None of the other three entered the year in question with so many question marks against their name. None had to show the strength of character Cook did Down Under, when he broke records and Australian hearts at regular intervals.
His sheer weight of runs in what is the most pressurised Test environment of them all should be enough to win him the award.
His application, willingness to bat for hours on end and the dedication he demonstrated to secure his place in Andy Flower's side goes beyond anything any of his rivals has been forced to deal with.
Cook is quick to point out, after reaching any personal milestone, that he has done it for the team and the unit is far more important than any one of its parts.
But if any name other than Alastair Cook is announced as the winner on September 12, it will hard to escape a feeling that a travesty of justice has taken place.
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