Sam Cook is set to be the big beneficiary of England pensioning off Jimmy Anderson. Uncapped Essex seamer Cook has enjoyed a prolific county career, taking 290 wickets at a miserly 19 runs apiece, 25 of them this season, making him the most successful bowler in Division One. Now 26, a perceived lack of speed through the air has gone against him in past international selections, but he has increased his pace since being challenged to do so and continues to tick other boxes when challenged. Significantly, last month, Cook (above) was the one seamer who enjoyed the trialling in the County Championship of the batter-friendly Kookaburra ball used in Ashes series in Australia and the majority of overseas Tests, taking 10 for 73 against Nottinghamshire. And he has also done his utmost to show he is not someone whose major damage is done with the new ball on green, early-season pitches.
