Cook loses ODI captaincy to Eoin Morgan

Sport360 staff 07:28 20/12/2014
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  • Shown the door: Alastair Cook paid the price for his poor run in ODIs.

    Alastair Cook will not captain Eng­land at next year’s World Cup. A powerful combination of wretch­ed results, even worse individual form and Cook’s vociferous and influential chorus of critics made it increasingly difficult for England’s selectors to stick to their guns.

    – Prior feels England can be dangerous at World Cup

    Following yesterday’s selection meeting, in which the management picked an initial squad of 16 for next month’s tri-series in Australia, to be trimmed by one for the main event, a decision was made to axe Cook following his poor run of form. The 29-year-old has made just one one-day international 50 in his last 22 innings.

    Left-handed batsman Eoin Mor­gan is now set to lead the side for the tri-series in Australia after Christmas and then the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February and March. The squad for the tri-series will be announced today.

    Cook is expected to be able to continue captaining the Test side and will focus on England’s bid to regain the Ashes against Australia next year. Yorkshire’s Gary Bal­lance is believed to be the leading contender to replace Cook in Eng­land’s 15-man World Cup squad with Moeen Ali and Alex Hales a potential new opening partnership.

    The news that Cook’s reign as England ODI captain is over has been welcomed by several former leaders of the national side.

    “I think it’ll be a relief to Alastair,” Michael Atherton, who led England in 54 Test matches, said.

    “He can now concentrate on bat­ting in Test matches at the top of the order. I don’t think Eoin Mor­gan is going to be in the Test side so he can concentrate on the one-day side of things.

    “With England’s schedule next year, it’s horrific in terms of the amount of cricket that’s being played, so I think it’s absolutely right that we have split captains.

    “I think it’s the right decision. It makes them look a bit silly, so in many ways a brave one.

    “Let’s face it, England can’t do much worse than they have been doing in recent times in ODIs. They’ve thrown a bit of caution to the wind, send some young players out there to play with freedom.”

    Nasser Hussain, who captained England at the 2003 World Cup, agreed with his former England team-mate.

    “It’s not ideal but I do think it’s the right decision, first and fore­most for Alastair,” he said.

    “Alastair should be quite proud of the way he’s fought to try and regain his form. He’s not a quitter, but he’s gone 59 innings now in an England shirt without a hundred.”

    Another former captain Michael Vaughan wrote in column for the Daily Telegraph: “The decision has been made, it is time to look forward. I am now confident we will see a different England team in Aus­tralia for the World Cup playing a brand of cricket suited to the mod­ern age.”

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