ENGLAND Test captain Alastair Cook believes he has a big role to play in his early-season appearances for Essex, writes Sam Balls.
The Three Lions opener is available for selection for Essex's first two County Championship games at home to Hampshire and away to Lancashire before a busy international summer begins.
Cook will lead his international colleagues against New Zealand before the ICC Champions Trophy and back-to-back Ashes series.
But for the time being, Cook is focused on passing on his knowledge to the squad's younger members – rather than chipping in with any captaining advice for James Foster.
He said: "Part of my role when I come back to Essex is to pass on my experience.
"Not so much to Fozzy [Foster], but to the young guys – certainly the young batters – who are trying to make their way in first class cricket.
"Now I've got quite a different experience, that's probably where I'm looking to those two games to help, rather than to worry too much about helping Foster.
"That's where I see my role. And that might just be the odd conversation here and there."
Cook earmarked Tom Westley and Jaik Mickleburgh as players who he hopes will mature into reliable senior figures following his return to Chelmsford.
He said: "These players have now had the experience of a fair few games for Essex and I'm keen to have a really good look at seeing how they progress in making that next step from a potential player to a player who is delivering runs every year."
Speaking as a captain himself, Cook suggested that Foster has done remarkably well to captain the side from behind the stumps.
He said: "I think he's done a very good job; he's got his hands full. I know how hard it is to captain just standing at a first slip so to do it keeping as well is a tough task."