Cook ready to step down as ODI captain

Sport360 staff 11:17 20/01/2014
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  • Owning up: Cook admits it may be time for a change for England.

    Alastair Cook has indicated his time as England captain could be close to an end after the one-day international series against Australia was meekly conceded in Sydney.

    England have endured a horror tour Down Under, losing all eight games against Australia in 86 days on tour including the 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

    That has left the spotlight on their 29-year-old captain and, after the defeats have piled up, Cook has conceded it has left him contemplating his future.

    “I think I’m going to have to make a decision on that after you take stock of the next two games (to end the series),” he said. “We’ll sit down and talk over a lot of things. I think there will be some changes. I think English cricket needs a little bit of a change as well.

    “The last few months we haven’t played the cricket we are capable of. We have to look at the reasons why.”

    Cook was given the backing to remain in charge by the England and Wales Cricket board during the fifth Test in Sydney a fortnight ago.

    Asked if he felt his position in both formats has been undermined, Cook added: “I don’t really want to get dragged into my position. I think it’s been two weeks since someone asked me that question – it’s been a long two weeks.

    “We have kept losing games of cricket and I haven’t been able to turn it around.”

    Cook is due to meet team director Andy Flower and new managing director Paul Downton when he returns home to conduct a review of the Australia tour.

    Flower spoke of the need to begin a “new era” in English cricket after the Ashes sweep.

    Cook’s future as captain is now likely to be hotly debated. While the left-hander might stay on as Test captain, his comments after the seven-wicket defeat at the SCG suggest he could at least relinquish the 50-over reins.

    Australia were able to inflict the latest defeat by strolling past England’s 243 for nine with 10 overs in hand. Eoin Morgan passed 50 for the third time in as many games, but while the top six all managed to reach double figures they were unable to push on.

    “There has been a bit of a theme with our batting in terms of those partnerships – getting 30s and 40s,” Cook said. “You can’t do that.”

    By contrast Australia attacked with the bat, opener David Warner smashed a quickfire 71 before Shaun Marsh completed the chase with an unbeaten 71 of his own.

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