No sentiment in team selection for third test, says Cook

Friday, 13 December 2013 03:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

vReuters: There will be no room for sentiment when it comes to selecting the team for this week’s potentially decisive third Ashes test against Australia, England captain Alastair Cook said on Thursday. England, who arrived in Australia chasing a fourth successive Ashes triumph, have their backs well and truly against the wall in Perth

after being humbled in the first two tests in Brisbane and Adelaide. Defeat in the third match at the WACA, where England have lost their last six tests, would see Cook handing back the tiny urn that has become a symbol of Anglo-Australian rivalry. The reputation of several leading England players has taken something of a battering and Cook said he and coach Andy Flower would consider all options before selecting their team ahead of the toss on Friday morning. “I think we do what we always do, which is try and pick the best team to win the game,” Cook told reporters at the WACA. “I think the grass is always greener with guys who are not playing (but) I think we’ve got a lot of good options in the squad. “But whichever 11 we go with, sentiment is out of the question, we’ve got to make sure we think that’s the best 11 to win the game.” Having played two spinners in Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar at Adelaide, at least one change to the England team is definite for what is expected to be a bouncy wicket at the WACA.