Losing ODI captaincy would ‘devastate’ Cook

Sport360 staff 08:29 18/09/2014
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  • Clinging on: Alastair Cook has received widespread criticism of his position in England's ODI team.

    Alastair Cook would be “devastated” if he were to be relieved of his position as England’s one-day captain before next year’s World Cup and still believes his beleaguered side have a chance of lifting the trophy.

    Cook’s position at the head of the ODI team has come under scrutiny, even if he has silenced the doubters at leading the Test side, following a dreadful run of results. The left-handed opening batsman has presided over five successive series defeats in the 50-over format, with former team-mate and friend Graeme Swann calling for Cook to focus solely on Test cricket and next summer’s Ashes.

    Yet the 29-year-old insists he is the man to lead England at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, when the tournament gets under way next February, although he added he would take it on the chin if the England and Wales Cricket Board thought otherwise.

    “I’m hoping to carry on. Of course I’d be devastated if I stop now but if they think it’s the right decision for English cricket for me to go as one-day captain I’d have to accept it,” Cook, whose own personal form has been criticised with a run of just one half-century in 16 ODIs, said to the Daily Mail.

    “Yes my game has had a tough 12 months but I think we saw signs of real improvement in the Test series and I was starting to get there in the one-day games.

    “What has frustrated me is getting a lot of starts without going on. If you turn one of those 40s to a 120 things change very quickly. I’ve just got to keep working on my game because I know it will turn back in my favour. I just know my record suggests I’m good enough to play international cricket.”

    The criticism of Cook reached its peak during the recent 3-1 defeat to India.

    Cook acknowledges his side must improve before they take part in the World Cup, with a series in Sri Lanka on the horizon, but has not yet written off their chances.

    “The one-day series was a blow and it shows how much work we’ve got to do before the World Cup,’ Cook added.”But absolutely we can still win it.”

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