South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2016, 1st Test, Day 3: 5 talking points

#2 Stephen Cook and his confusing technique

Cook answered his critics in style

Stephen Cook and Elgar are similar in the way they both overcome their technical deficiencies with defiance. Cook was criticised to no end in Australia for his tendency to hang out his bat against the swinging ball.

So uncertain was he in his foot movements and judgement that Starc toyed with him in the first two Tests. There were immediate calls to drop the opener and they were warranted since his initial movement of going back into the crease and bending down to meet the ball displayed what looked like fear against sheer pace.

If Australia thought so, they were horribly mistaken as Cook brought out his domestic form at Adelaide in the day-night Test to compile a fine hundred. As if that was not enough to mute his attackers, he made yet another one here in PE against Lanka in the second innings when the ball was moving around under cloud cover and heavy winds.