Coetzer to return as skipper for T20

Ben Stokes hopes “brilliant leader” Alastair Cook stays on as England captain.

All-rounder Stokes took his opportunity to speak up for the man who has been in charge throughout his Test career so far, but whose continued tenure appears to be in serious doubt with England in danger of a 4-0 series defeat in India.

Speculation about Cook’s position – after a record 58 Tests as captain – has dogged the tourists ever since he spoke openly on the eve of the series of a future in which he may one day return to the ranks and be able to concentrate on his batting.

Three successive defeats have not helped matters, and neither of course would another in Chennai where the final Test is set to begin tomorrow – despite the ravages of Cyclone Vardah – against hosts who have trounced everyone on their home soil ever since Cook’s 2012 tourists won 2-1 here.

Both teams were unable to hold yesterday’s scheduled practice sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium – where groundstaff have been trying to accelerate the drying process following Monday’s vicious storm, in homespun fashion, by rolling barbecue pans full of hot coals on stumps inches above the pitch.

The match has nonetheless been given the go-ahead, with both teams set to train today but be limited to fielding, fitness drills and maybe throwdowns because the nets will not recover in time.

Stokes, meanwhile, was looking further ahead as he voiced his support for Cook to continue his four-year tenure.

“I’ve played 31 Test matches, and he’s been the captain in every single one,” he told the BBC.

“He doesn’t want anything except success for the team. He wants to drive that forward.

“As a leader, I think he’s been brilliant – and I think he still will be.”

Stokes is one of a clutch of players who have flourished, in his case notably in the 2015 home Ashes victory, then hitting a career-best 258 in Cape Town last winter and even on this tour – with several outstanding performances as England have threatened at times to be competitive without being able to sustain their challenge.

“Over the last two years, he’s been absolutely fantastic,” Stokes added.

“He’s been part of the driving force of getting us to be the team we are today.

“Albeit we’re 3-0 down, we’ve made huge strides since Australia [in 2013/14].

“Whatever happens, I’ll have a lot of respect for him and whatever decision he makes – but I hope he sticks with what he’s doing, because I think he’s doing a great job.”

Cook’s future is set to become clear after his new year tour debrief with England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss. In the meantime, England’s immediate task is to raise their level after an innings defeat in Mumbai.

0 England all-rounder Ben Stokes has hailed captain Alastair Cook as a ‘brilliant leader’. Kyle Coetzer has been restored as interim Scotland captain following the surprise retirement of Preston Mommsen.

Mommsen, who has quit top flight cricket to work in the business community, replaced Coetzer two years ago.

However, Aberdeen-born Coetzer will return to the role when Scotland head to Dubai for the Desert T20 tournament next month. Mommsen’s fulltime successor will not be named until March.

The Scots will line up against seven of their closest Associate rivals during the event in the UAE and coach Grant Bradburn said: “The Desert T20 will be a fantastic event to kick off what is an exciting and important year for us.

“All the top Associate teams are improving rapidly and we look forward to some epic battles during this tournament, which we would love to become a regular feature on our playing calendar.

“As a team, we are desperate to show our skills in this T20 format which we enjoy playing and is a strong suit for Scotland. We have had a very good build-up over the winter months.”

Hampshire duo Brad Wheal and Chris Sole will spearhead the pace attack while fellow bowlers Ali Evans and Gavin Main miss out through injury along with Sussex batsman Matt Machan.

The tournament schedule will be announced later this month. Dutchman Michael van Gerwen feels it would be a “disaster” if he fails to add the 2017 William Hill PDC World Championship title to his trophy cabinet.

The world No 1 heads to Alexandra Palace on the back of a superb run of form which has seen him collect a record 25 tournament victories this year.

However, lifting the most-coveted prize of all has eluded the 27-year-old since 2014.

Van Gerwen, though, is confident he can start the new year in the same blistering form which has swept everyone else aside over the past 12 months.

“I expect to win it because any other result for me is a disaster,” he said.

“If people talk about this World Championship, my name goes after it, but it’s not that easy, it’s going to be tough this year.

“I know that, but I think I’ve got the mental ability to fight against that for glory and pride and I think I can do that.”

Van Gerwen certainly has unfinished business at Alexandra Palace, where Scotland’s Gary Anderson will be looking to become only the third man to win three successive World Championship titles when he opens his defence against Mark Frost tonight.

Having been knocked out by the Scot in the 2015 semifinals, last year he came off worst in an all-dutch thirdround showdown against Raymond van Barneveld.

Despite his form and confidence, Van Gerwen knows full well the challenge which lies ahead.

“The top half of the draw, my half, is going to be difficult, very hard,” he said. “But that doesn’t matter. If you want to win the World Championship you need to beat anyone and everyone.”

Van Gerwen will start his bid for the Sid Waddell trophy, with the final set for 2 January, on Saturday evening against either Canadian Ross Snook or Finland’s Kim Viljanen.

Van Gerwen added: “It doesn’t really matter who I play, because you are going to have to beat everyone but I would love to play Gary Anderson [in the final] because it is payback time.”