|
Alastair Cook was dismissed as captain of England’s one-day team ahead of the World Cup after the opener’s miserable run of form. |
Cook has scored just one fifty in his last 22 one-day innings for England and he has paid the price for failing to stop the rot during his country’s recent 5-2 series defeat in Sri Lanka.
During the recent 5-2 series defeat in Sri Lanka, Cook insisted he would not resign, but England’s selectors have decided to axe Cook as skipper at a meeting yesterday, with 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.
After England’s series-ending defeat in Colombo on Tuesday, Cook, who hasn’t scored a one-day century since June 2012, conceded he could have no complaints if he lost the one-day captaincy.
But the decision to remove him from the role with the World Cup looming is still a major reversal by Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket, and head coach Peter Moores, who have given Cook absolute backing this year.
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, which will be announced today, with Moeen Ali and Alex Hales a potential new opening partnership.
Cook, 29, who was appointed to lead the one-day side in 2011, averages only 27.52 in his last 20 one-dayers. Morgan began his career with Ireland and has played 107 ODIs for England. The 28-year-old left-hander, however, is in a similarly poor run of form, averaging only 25.45 in his last 23 matches.
The end of Cook’s reign as one-day skipper comes at the end of a turbulent year for the opener, in which he has presided over a 5-0 Ashes series defeat, the ending of Kevin Pietersen’s international career and calls for him to stand down as Test captain.
He did turn around his five-day form and the fortunes of his side with a 3-1 Test series win over India, but pressure on Cook’s position as ODI skipper increased with a 3-1 home one-day series defeat by the same opponents and the unsuccessful tour of Sri Lanka.
Coach Peter Moores, a selector alongside James Whitaker, Mick Newell and Angus Fraser, had refused to guarantee that Cook’s place as World Cup leader was secure.
Morgan has regularly deputised as captain in limited-overs cricket, most recently in the fourth one-dayer in Sri Lanka when Cook served a one-match ban for a slow over-rate.
In his eight matches as skipper Morgan averages 71.16, while England have won on three occasions when the left-hander has led the side.
The World Cup starts on Feb. 14 and Morgan’s men have been drawn in Pool A along with Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Scotland.
