A refreshed Alastair Cook insists he is raring to go as England fly out to the Caribbean ahead of their Test series against West Indies.
England’s 16-man squad departed Gatwick today for a three-Test rubber which begins in Antigua on April 13.
Cook was replaced as one-day captain by Eoin Morgan in December and missed out on selection for the World Cup.
But the 30-year-old is determined that England should focus on picking up where they left off in Test cricket, having won their last three games in emphatic fashion to beat India 3-1 last summer.
“It’s been obviously a different couple of months from what I thought I was going to have before Christmas,” said Cook.
“Every cloud has a huge silver lining and spending three months at home has been fantastic if I’m being honest with you.
“It’s been living a normal life again which I haven’t had for quite a long time and it’s been great spending time with family and friends and being at home.
“On that side of it, it has been really refreshing and actually really enjoyable but obviously a lot’s gone on since that last win at the Oval against India where we played three outstanding Test matches to come back from 1-0 down in that Test series.
“To say we can get back there straight away is going to be a challenge for the players, for the leadership, and obviously me and Mooresy [head coach Peter Moores] to try and do that because the last three Test matches we’ve played, we played some good cricket.”
Cook’s own form has come under the spotlight after he made just three and five in his two innings for the MCC against Yorkshire in Abu Dhabi last month, but the left-hander insists he is ready to end a two-year wait for his 26th Test century having been inspired by potential opening partner Adam Lyth’s reaction to being included in the squad.
Alastair Cook & Peter Moores have completed their pre #WIvEng press conference. The lads now wait for their flight: pic.twitter.com/xzdkYs3evm
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) April 2, 2015
“That’s what I’ve got to do at the top of the order - I’ve got to score runs to set up England wins,” Cook added.
“You saw, they weren’t hundreds but they were nineties and eighties and seventies in those last three games and runs at the top of the order always make England a harder side to beat. And it’s the same for any side; you’re paid to score runs and I’d love to get back up that batting.
“We’ve got to focus on the exciting thing which is the next five weeks and the guys who are lucky enough to pull on that shirt, to represent our country and be committed to playing for England.
“I was with Adam when he got his phone call from James Whitaker in Dubai, and it was such a refreshing thing to see. The guy, who is a tough, gritty Yorkshireman at the top of the order, was in tears talking to his mum, and that is what playing cricket for England is.
“Getting that opportunity for him to be standing in the airport in his first England suit - he’ll remember it forever - and we’ve got to concentrate on that now.”