Alastair Cook Quotes

Certain cricketers are meant to play Test cricket.

From a spectator point of view, Test cricket is not important; people hardly watch Test cricket. But as a player, Tests are the real thing. You have to concentrate for five days. It's a lot of time, and not easy to do it day in and day out. If people have played 70-100 Tests, it's a lot of cricket, a lot of concentration and dedication.

It is easy to get carried away in this Twenty20 era and think Test cricket has to be entertaining all the time.

As athletes, we're used to reacting quickly. Here, it's 'come, stop, come, stop.' There's a lot of downtime. That's the toughest part of the day.

Test cricket tests your ability as a cricketer but also bring out your true character.

In Test matches, you have to play consistent cricket for a period of time.

You can get suckered into believing you have to always be attacking with the bat, ball or fielding positions. But Test cricket is not always like that. There are times when it is a bit slow paced and even a bit boring.

I want to captain England in more Tests than anyone else.

Call me traditional, but Test cricket is the most important thing.

Guys are playing a lot of limited overs cricket and not making that adjustment when it comes to the longer version and pay a price for that.

When I watch Twenty20 cricket, there's a different satisfaction. That hundred you get in six hours is a very satisfying feeling. A real triumph of skill. I don't quite see that in the 20-over game - or the 100-ball game.

I just try to focus on one step at a time, what I have to do or what the team has to do to get here.

Test matches to me are the caviar compared to the fast food stuff. Having the ability and the constitution to triumph over five days is what it's all about.

In my opinion Test cricket is the best version of this game. It tests you mentally, physically, emotionally.

I wouldn't rule out the idea of four-day Test cricket, if we can get the playing conditions right and the right circumstances it might be a good thing in some parts of the world.

It's surreal to think that no one has played as many Test matches for England. I suppose it's a credit to my longevity.

One-day cricket must be taken with equal importance to Test cricket.

When I am very tired, I know when I have to go in hard or slow down. It helps me to play better in the next match.

It has been a great honour to play for the West Indies, to hold a bat and to spend 17 years in international cricket. That is something I am proud of.

This whole quest to win the 2019 World Cup, that was my job when I was director of England cricket.

It's a tough grind sometimes. Playing 82 games and the travel, it can wear you down. It's definitely something you have to learn and adjust to. If you don't, you can play your way out of the league very quickly.

I let the game come to me. I just try to read plays. I don't like taking bad shots. I want the best shot for the team.

The first one is your first World Cup, so you go into it with a lot of pressure, trying to take it all in, but you are just so focused.

The one thing we need to do to continue to maintain Test cricket as being special is cutting down the amount and make it a real occasion rather than playing one after another.

I keep my focus on the team and concentrate on the best possible match preparations.