By Alex Smith

WILL Buttleman was three years old when Sir Alastair Cook made his List A debut for Essex. Eighteen years on, and he’s opening the Eagles’ batting with him in the Royal London Cup.
Buttleman, 21, first remembers hearing about Cook, 36, after his double-century for Essex against Australia during the 2005 Ashes summer.
He then watched in awe from the Chelmsford stands near where he grew up whenever Cook returned from international duty, before rising through the Essex academy to eventually stroll out alongside him.
“I went to most T20s and 50-over game...