Leaders: Cook, right, and Strauss in Johannesburg today
Alastair Cook will lead England in Bangladesh next month, it was confirmed today. He takes over as captain following the decision to rest Andrew Strauss for the tour.
The decision to make Cook captain has not been universally popular - with predecessors Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain his chief critics. He needs to concentrate on his batting, they say and doesn't need the extra burden the role of leader brings.
Yet, at 25 it is clear Cook has been groomed for this role for many years. FEC (Future England Captain) was his nickname when he first broke into the team at Essex. So, there must be something about his character in the dressing-room which people believe will make him a successful captain.
I believe he must be given the chance to prove himself in the role and he needs to learn on the job. Bangladesh will be a challenge but he is good enough to rise to that challenge.
I must register an interest here here. I have gotten to know Cook over the past few years since he has become Metro's cricket columnist. I am not able to give you any great insights into his personality as I do not know him on a deeply personal level.
However, I did get to know him a little better today when I took him and his girlfriend Alice out for lunch in Johannesburg and aside from talking about his new dog, how he enjoys helping out Alice on her farm when he is back home in England, and the joys of touring South Africa, we spoke about his new challenge.
Now, Cook is a very personable and eloquent man. He talked confidently about how he will approach the role of captain and he is confident in his own ability to be a success in the role. He has a bond with coach Andy Flower from their days together at Essex and that will be a huge advantage.
He will learn on the job to a certain extent but if he has the qualities which I believe he has to thrive as captain - even though it is only on a short-term basis - this trip to Bangladesh can be of huge benefit to English cricket in the long-term