Cook to captain again

COACH Trevor Bayliss expects Alastair Cook to lead England into next winter’s Ashes.

Cook, who has captained his country more times than anyone else, recently admitted he did not know how long he would remain in the job, suggesting it could be as little as two months.

But Bayliss thinks the 31-year-old will still be in charge when England head Down Under trying to retain the Urn they won in 2015.

“He’s talking about the next Ashes series and being out in Australia,” Bayliss said.

“Sometimes there are little comments made along the way and they get blown out of all proportion.

“He’s certainly up for the fight. I haven’t had any discussion with him any other way and that’s what we’ve been working towards.

“I was as surprised as anyone when I saw that in the papers.”

KEATON Jennings is already feeling at home with England in Mumbai.

South Africa-born Jennings has made a life for himself with Durham, and is set to become England captain Alastair Cook’s latest opening partner when the fourth Test gets under way.

The 24-year-old is grateful too for a little piece of the north east in Mumbai to help him — because Durham and England allrounder Ben Stokes has proved the ideal person to help break the ice with his new team-mates before his anticipated debut on Thursday.

Jennings said: “In the last 12 hours, turning up with the guys from Dubai has been surreal,” he said. “I suppose meeting the guys for the first time as well calms your nerves a little bit.”

Stokes, one of the few who stayed in Mumbai rather than fly to the Middle East, has helped the process.

“Stokesy’s been brilliant with breaking the ice,” added Jennings.

“He was on my team in football this morning, and he got stuck into me as well.”