Alastair Cook has admitted that, though he is never going to be a Mike Brearley tactically, he feels he is the right man to continue as captain of Englands Test team.Cook goes into the Oval Test requiring three more victories to draw level with Michael Vaughan as the most successful England captain (in terms of the number of Tests won) in history. He is also three Tests short of equalling Mike Athertons record of 54 Tests as England captain.While his reputation as a leader may never match that of Brearley - whose win percentage of 58.06% as captain is well ahead of any other England player to have led in 20 Tests or more - Cooks team could also be on the verge of a couple of significant milestones. England lead the series against Pakistan 2-1 and, if they avoid defeat in the final Test, they will hold the trophy in all nine bilateral series against Test opposition. And, if they win the Test, they could be rated as the No. 1 Test team in the next few weeks if other results go their way.But while Cook admitted he will discuss his future with the team management after the Oval Test, he said he is the most comfortable he has ever been in the role at present and that, with significant challenges looming for his side in the near future, he would be reluctant to shirk responsibility when his experience may be at its most valuable.At the end of every series, Ill sit down with Trevor Bayliss and Andrew Strauss and discuss the future of the side and where we want to go, Cook said. Well discuss whether I am still the right captain for this team or if it is time to move on after this series or after India. We always now talk about that for my sanity as well.At the moment Im enjoying it. The dressing room seems to be in a good place. Its the most comfortable Ive felt captaining a side.The last year or so Ive really felt comfortable in the captaincy role and everything it brings with it on and off the field. I am really enjoying it and all those hard moments Ive had - obviously theyre not gone - but in one sense, it would seem wrong to give it up quite yet.At the forefront of Cooks mind is the prospect of seven Tests in Asia before Christmas. If England are to have any chance in India, in particular, they will not only need to draw on all the experience Cook possesses but they will need Joe Root (his obvious successor) to score heavily. Adding the burden of captaincy to a man with so little experience in the role and so much already expected of him may well prove overly onerous.Weve some tough challenges ahead, Cook said. Weve these five days and then seven straight Tests in the sub-continent - 11 weeks away - so I think were going to need some strong leadership. Its going to be a really tough tour for a lot of people. Weve got to be on it as a group.Cooks reputation as a leader is interesting. While captains are often rated on their on-field tactics -field placing and bowling changes, for example - much of their work takes place away from the cameras. You could argue that Cooks finest moment as captain came ahead of the India tour in 2012. After insisting on the return of Kevin Pietersen to the England team - an impressive feat of diplomacy at the time - he then led from the front with an outstanding display of batting that helped his team to a memorable series victory.More recently, his recommendation that James Anderson apologise to the umpires and then explain his actions to the media during the Edgbaston Test averted a possible suspension or fine. And, when we look back on this series against Pakistan, it may be that we reflect on his decision not to enforce the follow-on at Manchester as a defining moment. It was not a popular decision at the time - Cook seems untroubled about courting popularity - but, by batting again, England crushed an already jaded Pakistan side into the dust through exhaustion and disappointment. The signs, so far, are that they have never fully recovered.If there have been moments when his admirable determination has manifested itself as stubbornness, such as his refusal to accept his continued presence in the ODI side was holding back the team, he has also led England through a period of considerable upheaval - the 2013-14 Ashes thrashing, the Pietersen affair, the departures of Andy Flower, Ashley Giles, Peter Moores and Paul Downton and his over-the-top vilification in the media at the hands of Piers Morgan - to calmer, happier times which feature predictable selections, greater willingness to interact with supporters and some results - not least wining in India and South Africa and defeating Australia in England - which demand respect.Besides, it could be argued that Brealeys success was, in part, due to his career coinciding with Ian Botham being at his best as an allrounder. Just as Vaughan later relied upon Andrew Flintoff at his peak - and for a couple of years, Flintoff was a terrific cricketer - Brearley, for a while, had both Botham and Tony Greig to balance his side. While he deserved credit for coaxing the best out of Botham, we may one day look back on Cooks period of captaincy and reflect that the emergence of Ben Stokes (and Chris Woakes, among others) helped him take the England team to another level.Cook is no orator but, while Brearleys record as a leader is unquestioned, it should never be forgotten that his batting average of 22.88 is less than half that of Cook, which currently stands at 47.55. Really, it may be time to give Cooks leadership a little more respect.Perhaps, if England can reach No. 1 again and claim all nine bilateral Test series trophies, that respect may come. Cook agrees with James Anderson that this side is more naturally talented than the one that last achieved the No. 1 ranking in 2011 and feels that, whatever happens over the next few months, it is a couple of years away from fulfilling its potential.It would be a really good achievement by our guys, Cook said. But I genuinely think its come a little bit early for us a side. It would be a great achievement and one you can be very proud of when you finish playing cricket.But, as I keep saying, theres still questions that need to be answered. Were not at the level we were in 2012. Then everyone had played 30 or 40 Test matches at the very least.This is a more talented team. There are people who can turn a game in a session. The team in 2011-12 was a very consistent, hard-nosed team that was very hard to beat. Weve got a way to go to that level, but as you saw with some of the brilliance of Ben Stokes, getting a hundred in a session - that kind of stuff is whats very exciting about this team.Could Cook walk away from that excitement? It seems unlikely. And, as a developing England side search for stability and consistency, that should draw of sigh of relief from their supporters. Edmonton Oilers Gear . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. Fake Oilers Jerseys . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. https://www.cheapoilers.com/ . 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For So Si Bon, the Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby over 2500 metres is this three-year-old colts D-Day.He probably shouldve gone closer, or won, the Caulfield Guineas, So Si Bons trainer, Robbie Laing, told ESPN.Aiming for his second win in the Derby, after Polanksi saluted in 2013, Laing and jockey Hugh Bowman -- who must still be feeling the rush after Winxs breathtaking win in last Saturdays Cox Plate -- will team up once again for at tilt at this 2016 edition.Luck , or conditions, just hasnt been kind to the colt in his major lead-up runs, most notably with his fifth placing in the Group 1 Guineas (1600m) run three weeks ago.He got back [in the field], which was fair enough because he drew an outside alley, and was set to make a run at them at the 300 metre mark. He got blocked by a horse on his outside and then Seaburge [who is also engaged in the Derby] came from the inside and went under his neck [inconvenienced him] which probably cost him about two lengths in running, Laing told ESPN.His last 100 metres was very quick and was beaten a length-and-a-half. Thats probably the one that got away.The Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase [2040m] last Saturday saw So Si Bon finish third behind $2.80 Derby favourite Sacred Elixir.Last week he went better than expected because I dont think he can handle soft ground, and I thought his run was terrific. Should he have won? No.So Si Bon is rated a $9 chance with UBET for the Derby. While Bowman has a 100 percent strike rate in the Derby when riding for Laing, he will be shooting for a fourth win of his own in this classic.On Saturday therell be similar horses and Bowman [now] takes the reins. Hughies got the Derby record on the board and, who knows? Hes a guy that doesnt get his knickers in a knot and hopefully that transfers to the horse. They [horses] can definitely feel it [when a jockey is relaxed].After the Caulfield Guineas, his management team thought that he might be the horse to ride in the Derby.Robbie Laings father, Eddie, was a successful jockey and trainer himself. When Robbie took out his trainers license in his early 20s, he quickly enjoyed success at Group 1 level in the 1983 Thousand Guineas. Despite consistently training winners at all ages and distances, it is as a trainer of jumpers that has become a label which has proven hard to shake and, in reality, is somewhat of a misnomer.Its hard to lose the jumping tag, Laing laughed.Laing was one of the top trainer of jumpers in Victoria throughout the latter part of the 1990s and 2000s. With wins in races like the Grand Annual Steeplechase, and other majors, he was fast becoming pigeonholed as such with that success. But as the dwindling situation and politics around jumps racing in Australia has become headline news in the past decade, the perception of this specialty required reversing as much for Laings career progression as for any other reason.I had to [diversify]. With the amount jumpers that I had in my stable and with the depletion of jumps racing iin Victoria, it was silly being top-heavy with jumpers in the yard.ddddddddddddWeve tried to re-invent ourselves and were pretty happy.Laing said he really put my head down into training jumpers to try and save jumps racing, noting that Jim Houlahan [legendary trainer of jumpers] was in his 90s, Eric [Musgrove, another notable jumps trainer] was entering two or three horses in races to keep it buoyant.I thought, gee, if I could win -- and I love the jumping, obviously - its no good just sitting on my hands if they wind it down and I shouldve done something about it, so I ended up with a team of jumpers.Probably the thing that was detrimental was that I had so many good ones. If I had average jumpers then not too many people wouldve labelled me as a jumping trainer, but my name was up in lights as just that.But it is horse racing overall that is a passion for people such as Robbie Laing. His upbringing determined that, but it is the Winx-like moments can create an impression on a child wherever and whenever they might occur.I was at Caulfield when Tobin Bronze won the Caulfield Cup, Laing said of the Hall of Famers famous victory in 1967.It was huge. I dont know how many people jammed into Caulfield that day but ladies were taking little bits and pieces of his tail as souvenirs because he was heading to America soon after. Most of the women in the crowd were crying. He was just such a magnificent looking horse, and if he was racing today he probably couldnt get enough accolades.Laing also has a candidate for the fillies middle-distance classic, the Crown Oaks, at Flemington next week. The Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Saturday is often the most reliable guide to the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) run on Thursday, and the Laing-trained Missrock is rated a $7 chance for the trial and $19 for the classic.Most positively, Hugh Bowman will also take the ride on this three-year-old filly.Weve trained her like a stayer and her work [on Thursday] morning with So Si Bon looked good, Laing said.Hes had the one ride on her when she won the Percy Sykes (Stakes, 1200m at Randwick in April). Going on her run in the Thousand Guineas Prelude (Sep. 24), youd want to be on her. She was a little bit flat in the Thousand Guineas [1600m, Oct. 8] itself but I put that down to it being just one of those runs.Further proving his versatility with horse across all ages and distances, Laing has been successful in the Melbourne Cup-week events for two-year-olds on at least seven occasions in as many years. He hopes the opening race on Tuesday will add to that tally.Ive got a very good chance. Ive got a filly by [sire] Written Tycoon called Herrera. A couple of Mondays back she trialed with another colt of mine called Destinys Own, and she put pay to him beating him by five lengths. He then came out and finished a length behind Azazel who won at Moonee Valley last Saturday.So taking a line through that formline, and that she had impressed us greatly, shell be hard to beat.It might just pay to take the tip. ' ' '