England struggled in the three match series against South Africa, eventually losing the series 2–0.
Cook started the series well, making yet another century in the first innings of the first match between the two sides.
However, he was dismissed for a duck in the second innings as South Africa took a 1–0 lead.
The next match ended in a draw, with Cook making decent contributions, despite failing to pass fifty.
The third match was over shadowed when Kevin Pietersen was dropped following an argument with senior England players.
Cook scored just ten runs in the match as England lost to lose the series 2–0 and lose their spot at the top of the Test rankings.
Cook had an unsuccessful ODI series, the only 50 he made coming in the final match of the series.
England lost the match and series finished 2–2.

On 29 August 2012, Cook became England's Test captain after previous Test captain Andrew Strauss retired from all forms of cricket.

Cook, who captained England in Bangladesh for two Tests in a previous series, took charge of England for the Test series against India in the winter of 2012.
In each of the first three Tests – the first a defeat and the second a ten-wicket victory – he scored a century.
This, together with a century in each of the aforementioned two Tests in Bangladesh, gave Cook five centuries in five Tests as captain, a record number.
His scores on the tour also included 119 and 97 in the warm-up matches.
The ten-wicket victory in the second Test was lauded by the media as one of England's greatest victories, and Cook's run of hundreds brought him level with the English Test record for most centuries.
On 6 December 2012, Cook became England's leading scorer of centuries after making a hundred against India in Kolkata.

On 7 December 2012 he captained England to its first Test series victory on Indian soil since 1984–85, as well as overtaking Mike Gatting as England's highest ever run scorer in India For his performances in 2012, he was named both in the World Test XI and ODI XI by the ICC
.
He was also named in the World Test XI by the Cricinfo.

Cook continued his impressive form in the ODI series, scoring 75 in the first match, which helped England win the game.
Cook was less impressive in the next two games as India took a lead in the series after winning both games.
Cook made 74 in the fourth game but England still lost and India took an unassailable 3–1 series lead.
England won the last game meaning the series had finished 3–2 to India, meaning the tour was seen as a success and the transition from Strauss to Cook was seen as a smooth one.
England struggled in the three match series against South Africa, eventually losing the series 2–0. Cook started the series well, making yet another century in the first innings of the first match between the two sides. However, he was dismissed for a duck in the second innings as South Africa took a 1–0 lead. The next match ended in a draw, with Cook making decent contributions, despite failing to pass fifty. The third match was over shadowed when Kevin Pietersen was dropped following an argument with senior England players. Cook scored just ten runs in the match as England lost to lose the series 2–0 and lose their spot at the top of the Test rankings. Cook had an unsuccessful ODI series, the only 50 he made coming in the final match of the series. England lost the match and series finished 2–2.
On 29 August 2012, Cook became England's Test captain after previous Test captain Andrew Strauss retired from all forms of cricket.
Cook, who captained England in Bangladesh for two Tests in a previous series, took charge of England for the Test series against India in the winter of 2012. In each of the first three Tests – the first a defeat and the second a ten-wicket victory – he scored a century. This, together with a century in each of the aforementioned two Tests in Bangladesh, gave Cook five centuries in five Tests as captain, a record number. His scores on the tour also included 119 and 97 in the warm-up matches. The ten-wicket victory in the second Test was lauded by the media as one of England's greatest victories, and Cook's run of hundreds brought him level with the English Test record for most centuries. On 6 December 2012, Cook became England's leading scorer of centuries after making a hundred against India in Kolkata.
On 7 December 2012 he captained England to its first Test series victory on Indian soil since 1984–85, as well as overtaking Mike Gatting as England's highest ever run scorer in India For his performances in 2012, he was named both in the World Test XI and ODI XI by the ICC
. He was also named in the World Test XI by the Cricinfo.
Cook continued his impressive form in the ODI series, scoring 75 in the first match, which helped England win the game. Cook was less impressive in the next two games as India took a lead in the series after winning both games. Cook made 74 in the fourth game but England still lost and India took an unassailable 3–1 series lead. England won the last game meaning the series had finished 3–2 to India, meaning the tour was seen as a success and the transition from Strauss to Cook was seen as a smooth one.
Alastair Cook