Players like Alastair Cook do not come around very often. To play for so long and achieve so much says everything about his fitness, concentration, discipline and skill. Jonathan Agnew More Quotes by Jonathan Agnew More Quotes From Jonathan Agnew Finally, after more than a year of unprecedented anticipation, the talking stops and the cricket begins. Jonathan Agnew anticipation talking years It is doubtful that anyone has contributed more in a lifetime to the overall coverage of cricket. Jonathan Agnew cricket doubtful lifetime I've never got to the bottom of streaking Jonathan Agnew cricket-funny cricket bottom Opening the batting in Test cricket, facing up to fast bowlers looking to do their worst with a new, hard ball is incredibly tough. You have to be brave, single-minded and prepared to work very, very hard. Jonathan Agnew you cricket brave work The old player in me can certainly sympathise with how your targets change because you simply do not know what is around the corner. Jonathan Agnew know me you change I think most cricket fans would accept that Dravid and Tendulkar are very different individuals but they are both great players. Jonathan Agnew accept great think cricket Indian fans probably warm to Tendulkar more, because he was their darling from a very young age and he is a class above anyone else in his team. But in any other generation Dravid would be there by himself. Jonathan Agnew generation warm team age Preparation is not just about batting and bowling. You have to consider lots of things - the travel, the weather, the heat, the light, the sounds. You have to be comfortable with everything. Jonathan Agnew you light weather travel When you think of the great eight-wicket bowling figures in Test history, the names of Michael Holding, Shane Warne and Stuart Broad spring to mind. Jonathan Agnew great you mind history This is Test cricket. Being positive is not far away from being reckless. For all that the sport has become more fast-flowing and entertaining, you still need batsmen whose first instinct is to be patient. Jonathan Agnew you cricket far-away positive The art of coaching is to give a player freedom to bring out his talent. It is the player's responsibility for what happens once they are on the pitch. Jonathan Agnew talent freedom responsibility art Virender Sehwag can tear any attack apart. He is audacious, takes risks and has fantastic hand/eye co-ordination. Jonathan Agnew attack risks he fantastic Tillakaratne Dilshan is innovative and scores quickly, while Upul Tharanga is neat and well organised - and left handed. Jonathan Agnew quickly while well left As a player, when things are going against you, you look to the captain to inject some energy but I don't see any of that from Amla. Jonathan Agnew see look you energy It is nothing new for the management of an international cricket team to wrestle with the amount of freedom afforded to players. Jonathan Agnew cricket freedom team management It is not difficult to come up with a long list of cricketers who like to have a good time - from the village green to the Test arena, it is a sociable sport. Jonathan Agnew good green time long By empowering players - not just players, but grown men - to think for themselves outside of the game, you hope that they will be more likely to adapt to a situation and seize the moment in a sporting contest. Jonathan Agnew moment you hope men You do not want cricketers who are cowed by adversity, waiting for someone to tell them what to do. Jonathan Agnew someone you adversity waiting For me, Test cricket at its best is all about ebb and flow of initiative, and it's always a fascinating moment of the match for me when one sides snatches it from the other. Jonathan Agnew best me moment cricket There's little that's subtle about Hardus Viljoen - he's a broad-chested, broad-shouldered fast bowler, who simply trundles up to the wicket and hurls it down as fast as possible. Jonathan Agnew fast possible down who
