Alastair Cook pokes fun at David Gower after Joe Root's New Zealand dismissal

18 February 2023 , 12:00

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David Gower reacts after Sir Alastair Cook poked fun at his dismissal in the 1990-91 Ashes series (Image: Twitter/@btsportcricket)

Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook has poked fun at David Gower, highlighting similarities between one of his dismissals in the 1990-91 Ashes series and Joe Root's dismissal in the second innings against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui.

Having scored his 56th Test half-century, Root got out in the final over before the lunch break after attempting to reverse sweep spinner Michael Bracewell. However, Root failed to make clean contact and the ball bounced off wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and was caught by Daryl Mitchell at first slip.

It was branded a "monumental mistake" and "so unnecessary" on commentary by former New Zealand batter Craig McMillan and Cook compared it to Gower getting caught in the deep off the last ball before lunch during the 1991 Ashes Test in Adelaide, with his dismissal enraging then England skipper Graham Gooch.

Gower played just three more Tests after that series and later said he believes the dismissal was "more significant in the management's assessment of my future" than his infamous Tiger Moth plane ride during the same tour.

Speaking on BT Sport, Cook recalled: "I remember once when David Gower got caught at deep backward square leg off the last over before lunch and my great mate, Mr Graham Gooch, wasn't best pleased standing at the other end.

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"I wonder how he would have felt with Joe Root [getting out] playing a reverse sweep in the last over before lunch. You might have liked this era!"

Cook brought up Gower's dismissal after Joe Root got out attempting a reverse sweep in the last over before lunch (Twitter/@btsportcricket)

With a smile on his face, Gower then approached the camera and pointed directly at Cook as he said: "Excuse me, I want a serious word here... That was the worst shot of my entire career at the end of the worst hour of my entire career for which I've apologised sincerely many many times. Thank you very much for bringing it up now!"

"My theory is you wouldn't have had to apologise [in this era]," replied Cook. To which Gower responded: "If I'd been trying to play the current style of cricket, which of course I did anyway, I'd have been much more positive about it.

"It was a wimpish attempt, in fact it wasn't even an attempt it was horrible. It was a complete miscue. I had no excuse then and I'd have had no excuse today I promise you."

Matthew Cooper