Whatever batting genius Alastair Cook used to possess - and there was a great deal of it - that form has become the mere wisp of a distant memory.
Selectors were unwilling to drop the former skipper as they waited, breath-bated, for a return to form which never happened. A brace of double centuries confused the issue over the last two years or so - but, the magic had departed.He will bat for England one final time in the fifth test.
Sadly, there is no obvious replacement - Ed Smith must be deeply concerned about both slots to open the England batting for quite a long time into the future.
