Cook keen on exploring new territory
Fresh from leading England to a first Test series triumph in India for 28 years, Alastair Cook is determined to launch a new era for the one-day side by breaking further new ground on the sub-continent.
Cook returned to India on Wednesday night knowing it is vital that he forms a quick and effective relationship with England's new limited overs coach Ashley Giles. Giles has taken over the one-day and Twenty20 reins from Andy Flower, allowing England's director of cricket to focus on the Test team and the imminent Ashes series against Australia.
"This is unknown territory," Cook said. "We haven't done it before. It is a bit like the three captains. It was new and I thought it worked really well because of the energy the captains brought to their side."
He added: "I can see this working the same way on the coaching side. We are going to have to work very hard on the relationship. I am sure as we get used to it the relationship will improve and I have no worries about it working well."
England have beaten the 50 over world champions just once in their last 18 one-day internationals in India dating back to 2002, losing the last three away series 5-1, 5-0 and 5-0. England begin their tour with two warm-up games, on Sunday and Tuesday, before they face India in a five match one-day series, starting a week on Friday.
Cook, who was captain for the whitewash in 2011, continued: "Every time you start a tour it is a huge challenge. When I sat here two and a half months ago I said winning a Test series in India would be a great achievement. To do that was a great effort by our whole squad and our whole team.
"As sport moves on very quickly and India in their own back yard as a one-day team is another huge challenge for us as a side. We lost there 5-0 last time so it would be a really good measure of us as a side. I think we have a squad capable of doing something very special."
Cook first knew Giles as a player after he was called into England squad in Pakistan in 2005.
"He was a senior citizen of the side when I first went to Pakistan," Cook said. "He was really good to me. He was kind of called 'the Dad' in one way. He was that gel in the middle of the team, always looking after players.
"He has a fantastic coaching record. Everyone who has worked with him speaks very highly of him. I am really looking forward to our coach and captain relationship growing. We all know how strong that needs to be."
