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Andrew Strauss tips Alastair Cook to take England forward

Director of cricket Andrew Strauss has faith in Alastair Cook to lead England's new approach in the longest format.

ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss has insisted that Alastair Cook is the right man to take England forward in Test cricket.

The appointment of Trevor Bayliss as head coach was made with the plan that England will take a more attacking approach to all formats, and while the signs in limited-overs cricket have been promising, Cook faces a tough challenge as England prepare to meet Australia in the first Ashes Test next week.

"We've got an obligation to make the product one that people want to watch," Strauss told reporters. "I know, from my experience, that when you've been involved with English cricket for a long time it's quite nice to have that sort of fresh change of thinking.

"I think Cook is very much the man to take the England Test team forward – he's had two Test matches, he's played well.

"I think he has captained well, and so my opinion hasn't changed in any way."

The first Test gets underway in Cardiff next Wednesday.

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Mark Footitt of Derbyshire celebrates after taking the wicket of Durham's Will Smith (not pictured) during the LV County Championship match between Derbyshire and Durham at The County Ground on September 13, 2013
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