Media pressure forced Cook out, indicates Bresnan

Tim Bresnan, the England and Yorkshire seamer, believes Alastair Cook's resignation from the England captaincy was the result of unwarranted media pressure.

Alastair Cook and Tim Bresnan against Australia in 2010-2011.

Tim Bresnan believes Alastair Cook's resignation from the England captaincy was the result of unwarranted media pressure. Cook, who led his country in 59 Tests – a national record – >stepped down this week following widespread speculation in the wake of a damaging 4-0 loss in India at the end of last year.

All-rounder Bresnan, who has made 23 Test appearances for England, including Ashes wins over Australia in 2011 and 2013 – the latter under Cook's captaincy – was surprised to see his former skipper relinquish the role. "I didn't expect him to step down," Bresnan told Omnisport .

"The media put a lot of pressure on him, it's been undeserved, I think he's been doing his job really well. After India I think people have put massive pressure on him to step down, but India's a very difficult place to go and win. You judge India on how other teams go and I think Australia are about to go there and play. It'll be massive to see where they are as a team and whether, if they lose, their captain gets put under the pump to step down.

"He's probably just had enough of the media putting pressure on him. He's been under scrutiny the whole time, saying he's negative and stuff, but at the end of the day he's got the job done. Why he gets put under the pump so much I'll never know. The media don't ever seem to be happy unless England are winning every game. It's not going to happen, that's the beauty of sport. It's mentally draining and that [treatment of Cook] is unfair if you ask me."

Bresnan's Yorkshire colleague Joe Root is widely tipped to succeed Cook as captain, but the 31-year-old is not convinced the decision is a formality. "He's experienced and England's best player at the moment," added Bresnan. "It worked pretty well for Australia sticking their best player in as captain, same for India, why shouldn't it work for England? Through the media, Rooty's already pretty much walked it, but let's just see what happens. Have a bit of patience and make sure you choose the right man for the job.

"He's got his head screwed on and he plays all forms with Ben Stokes – there's another hat to throw in the ring – so just watch this space, it's not a foregone conclusion."