By Martin Gough

Cook is moving from the England spotlight to Essex floodlights

After a Test debut century, Alastair Cook's next target is to cement a place in the Essex one-day side this summer as they look to defend the Pro40 crown.

Cook played just five games as the Eagles won the old Totesport League but said: "That's the strength of the squad - we've got world-class players.

"I forced my way in at the end and played some good one-day cricket.

"And I scored 200 off 200 balls against Australia so I can play my shots as well. I'm not just a blocker."

Cook's reputation grew massively after that aggressive innings of 214 in a tour game just before the last Ashes Test.

But the 21-year-old could not break into the Test side and was supposed to tour the West Indies with England A this spring.

It took Michael Vaughan's knee injury and Marcus Trescothick's departure to see him fly from the Caribbean.

We need to keep our fast bowlers fit because when they were firing at the start of the season we were right up there Alastair Cook

He made his debut in Nagpur a few days later and hit an unbeaten 104, becoming just the 15th England player to reach triple figures in his first Test.

"The whole winter has been a whirlwind. It's been very different to the way I thought it was going to turn out but it obviously turned out well," he told BBC Sport.

"But it's over now. I've got to put a line underneath it and try to focus on the start of the season."

Vaughan may not recover from a knee injury in time for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's on May and Ian Bell's place is in doubt.

He could even be given a chance in the 50-over game as England's moribund side in India looks for an extra spark ahead of the World Cup.

Cook's outstanding debut no surprise

But Cook said: "There are world-class players coming back who have done far more that I have in the game and been proven international players.

"If they're back, fit and well they will play.

"All I can do is score as many runs as I can for Essex, keep my name in the hat and keep putting the pressure on."

Cook was Essex's leading run-scorer in the County Championship, with 1,249 at an average of 48.03.

But he admits they need to find more consistency in the four-day game after finishing fifth in Division Two last year.

And his team-mate James Foster, the wicket-keeper who played seven Tests for England in 2001-2, is in agreement.

Tudor's fitness could be key to Essex's four-day campaign

"The one-day season was obviously fantastic. We were pretty much unstoppable, we only lost one game," Foster told BBC Sport.

"Every time we got out on that pitch we believed we could win, even before the first ball was bowled.

"But in the four-dayers we didn't really click."

Alex Tudor's knee injury and England one-day calls for Darren Gough saw the side lacking pace bowling bite.

And their attempt to rectify the situation by signing Australian Mitchell Johnson came to nothing.

"We need to keep our fast bowlers fit because when they were firing at the start of the season we were right up there," said Cook.

"Unfortunately injuries took their toll and we just fell away a bit towards the end."

Batting, however, is Essex's strength even if Cook has to spend more time on international duty.

"[Batting coach Graham] Goochy has all that experience, Andy and Grant Flower and Ronnie Irani have all been very supportive," Cook added.

"It's a good club to be at to try and learn from the best."