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| Alastair Cook amassed over 500 runs at an average of 71.85, orchestrating Essex's entry into the semifinal of the 50-over competition © BCCI |
Alastair Cook's prolific run in the Royal London One-Day Cup for Essex has earned him a place in the South team in next year's North vs South one-day series, it was confirmed on Thursday (May 18). James Vince, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Ravi Bopara are the other three players to make it to the South side.
Cook has amassed over 500 runs at an average of 71.85, orchestrating Essex's entry into the semifinal of the 50-over competition, which they will play at home.
Cook, with 108 points, is behind Colin Ingram (150 points) and Shiv Thakor (110) on the Professional Cricketers Association's (PCA) MVP rankings. A total of four spots in each sides is decided on the basis of the MVP rankings while the remaining slots are filled by the English selectors.
The series will also be an opportunity for the players to push their case for selection in the 2019 World Cup squad with the England and Wales Cricket Board confirming that the series will be watched closely by the national selectors and management in their planning for the 2019 World Cup.
However, chances of the tournament's dates clashing with England's Test tour of New Zealand in March render Cook's availability uncertain. Cook has not played an ODI for England since being removed as captain in December 2014.
Keaton Jennings, Sam Hain, Gary Ballance and Thakor will take the four spots in the North team. The slots are filled by English players only and hence Ingram wasn't considered.
Source : Cricbuzz
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