Cook's plan to 'copy Australia'

Alastair Cook's England cricketers are prepared to copy the example set by Australia if that is the best way to 'reconnect' with their own public.

Captain Cook and his players were struck by the empathy and rapport their Ashes conquerors had with supporters during Australia's romp to an unexpected 5-0 whitewash of the tourists.

England are striving to make a break with that past and Cook is a near sole survivor in his senior position following the departures from their established roles of Andy Flower, Kevin Pietersen and others.

The earliest days of the new era under head coach Peter Moores have been characterised by a chorus to 'connect' – as team-mates and as personalities with those who follow English cricket.

Cook was a central figure in Flower's regime, which was so successful until the unmitigated failure of the 2013-14 Ashes campaign.

But even amid all the accolades of previous Ashes wins and other major achievements, there was a creeping perception of austerity years as England perhaps sacrificed a broader appeal in pursuit of victory.

Attritional cricket and monosyllabic responses were increasingly noted by many pundits.

Change is afoot, however, and Cook has made it clear he and his team-mates will not be above borrowing from their Ashes rivals – or even the England rugby union team – to make sure they maximise their potential.

"Maybe we became very insular as a side – it worked very well at some points for us, but when it wasn't going well we didn't have anything to fall back on," he said.

"The guys in the dressing room are good people, they are nice guys. The public don't see that enough.

"I hope we can copy Australia a little bit in the way they did it."

It will, of course, be results rather than method which define the Cook and Moores era – and the captain acknowledges they could do without an early stumbling block in Friday's opening assignment, a one-day international against Scotland in Aberdeen.

"It is always a banana skin," Cook said.

"The quality we have got, if we play well, we'll win.

"If we don't, they will put us under pressure and we could lose a game of cricket.

"It won't be the end of the world – but it won't be the best start."