• England in India 2013

Cook wants big guns to step up

ESPN staff
January 10, 2013
Alastair Cook feels England can challenge India © Getty Images
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England captain Alastair Cook claims they will have to play 'out of their skin' if they are to stand any chance of beating India in the upcoming ODI series.

India are the world champions in the 50-over format, but they are a side under pressure following a Test series defeat to England and ODI series loss to Pakistan.

Despite the pressure being on India, Cook says England are the underdogs and feels the only way to claim victory is if their big players step up.

"We are the underdogs but if you look though our side we have a lot of firepower and world-class players," Cook said at a press conference ahead of the first ODI in Rajkot on Friday. "For us to win this series, those world-class players and everyone in our squad will have to play out of our skin."

England were beaten in their two warm-up matches and Cook feels they provided the players with a dose of reality.

"The second game we improved a lot," he said. "For us to win, it showed us the challenge we have got on our hands.

"Our skill levels will need to improve a lot, especially in the field. It is going to be a helluva challenge, like the Test series in a way, and we have to do something that no English side has done for a long time."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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