England drew India, who got thumped by South Africa, so they weren’t a great Indian side either: Alastair Cook

Former England captain and commentator Alastair Cook has stated that the England team management has to address a massive disconnect between the national side and the country's domestic county set-up. 

While speaking exclusively on TNT Sports at Lunch on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Ashes 2025-26 Test, Cook asserted that England, under the captaincy of Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, has stopped rewarding good performances in County cricket, which needs to be addressed immediately. 

"They started off with a bang, Key (England team managing director Rob Key), McCullum and Stokes, but since then it has gone downhill," Cook told TNT Sports.

It’s important to note that England's first series defeat in the Stokes-McCullum era was a 1-4 defeat in India. Also, the current management has only lost one more series apart from that, which was an away tour to Pakistan. On the other hand, England is now trailing 0-3 in the Ashes.

"They've done a good job. I like Rob Key and McCullum, I like how they thing but I do feel this last bit, they have taken their eye off the ball in the biggest series. They drew India and then India got thumped by South Africa so that Indian side wasn't a great Indian side either," said Cook.

"This has been a real reminder that the traditional values of selection in Test cricket are still important. These guys have totally and utterly said County cricket's irrelevant. There's a massive disconnect at this minute between this England side and County cricket. I think that needs to be addressed. Because if you are banging out runs or wickets in County cricket, there must be a path into the Test team and I think at the minute there isn't. So that needs to be looked at,” he concluded.

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