How an open stance got Cook back on track

Specialist batting coach Gary Palmer reveals how he worked on England opener Alastair Cook's stance and how the move got the opener back on track after a lull between 2012-2014.

In between 2015 and 2017, Cook scored 3,533 runs in 42 Tests at an average of 47.74, including seven hundreds and 17 half-centuries. This was in stark contrast to the 2,555 runs he had managed from 37 Tests at 39.30 in between 2012 and 2014.

An open stance

"We worked on a more open stance and turning his back foot in when he triggered," Palmer points out. "It was also important to keep his leading shoulder out of the way prior to driving the ball when hitting straight. Doing this gave him good alignment and balance so he could hit down the ground more effectively.

Alastair Cook's alliance with Gary Palmer, a former Somerset all-rounder, and the time he spent in the latter's academy in Oxfordshire provided a second lease of life for the Essex batsman.

"It also gave him good access to the ball and, importantly, allowed him to leave the ball more effectively. We worked for many months honing his technique and hitting lots of balls so to get the muscle memory in place and ensure we didn’t leave a stone unturned," he adds.

Palmer argues that a slightly more open batting stance "helps a left-handed batter facing a right-arm pace bowler hit the ball effectively in the V."

"It's all about angles and keeping the bat on the line of the ball for as long as possible when playing straight. If you stand very side-on, you limit the access to the ball and can’t hit it down the ground. This is when players get blocked off and play around their front pad.

"Standing too side on also leads to your head tipping to the offside where the batter can be lured into playing good balls outside the off stump. If you are more open it's easier to adjust to the swinging and turning deliveries," Palmer reasons.