ESSEX'S under-fire England captain Alastair Cook has received strong support from former Test players.
Speaking to the Star at the Harlow Town Cricket Club and Lashings charity matches, West Indies legend Gordon Greenidge, South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs, India batsman Wasim Jaffer plus ex-England Test players John Lever and Ed Giddens, all gave their support to the 29-year-old Essex opener, who has endured a torrid spell over the past 12 months.
He went into yesterday's opening Test match against India, not having scored a Test hundred in the last 12 matches.
Cook has also received severe criticism for his on-field tactics not least from former legendary former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne.
The 5-0 hammering in Australia and recent Sri Lanka series loss have wiped out the memory of three earlier series wins under Cook.
Greenidge feels England should stick with Cook as captain.
The 63-year-old former West Indies Test opener was a feared opponent for many opening bowlers with his brutal strokeplay.
Greenidge feels that more patience needs to be shown by the public and press.
He said: "The British people and media are very harsh if you lose a series. They want to get rid of a captain if a team loses.
"I am sure not scoring runs does not help [for Cook] but others have to perform too."
He added: "If they get rid of Cook who will come in? Bell cannot do it and nor can Anderson and Broad.
"Prior has only just come in to the team after an injury and he was out of the team before [dropped in the Ashes series]."
Greenidge was a member of the West Indies side that dominated world cricket between 1976 when they beat England 3-0 until the early 1990s.
He realises even teams more gifted side than England can have slumps.
Greenidge was in the West Indies side that were thrashed 5-1 in Australia in 1975/76.
He said "England used their conditions and beat Australia last summer. I do not think Australia were given enough credit for what they did against England in the winter."
Former England and Sussex fast bowler Ed Giddens firmly backs Cook.
"There will be people more qualified than me who will criticise his tactics," he said.
"I do not remember too many people were complaining when we won the Ashes last summer. You do have bad form."
He added: "I remember when Nasser Hussain had a bad run with the bat when he was captain but they kept faith with him. I would not go with Bell. He is not a leader.
"With someone like Alastair Cook he has earned the right for more time through what he has done."
Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs was supportive.
"The public are impatient and want results but England are in transition," he said.
"I would back Cook. He has a good record. All players have dips in form and sometimes they go on for a long time."
Former Indian Test player Wasim Jaffer said England may have to consider Cook's position shortly.
He said : "If England lose to India I think they may have to change.
"Ian Bell would be a candidate. He has played 100 Tests and is the most consistent player."
Former England and Essex medium fast bowler John Lever said: "It is a media frenzy and he is not scoring the level of runs he would like.
"A lot of time has been invested in Alastair Cook and I do not think Peter Moores (England coach) will panic. There is nobody else that should be captain."
He added: "There is also the problem that none of the others in the England team has had much experience of captaincy in county cricket.
"However it is a different matter if Alastair Cook feels it is affecting his batting."
