I can’t quit as captain after this, says Cook
Alastair COOK has admitted that he has been contemplating his future as England captain but hi s ‘ gut instinct’ is that he wants to keep leading his ashes heroes.
Cook has led England to a spectacular 3- 1 lead against australia and sealed the ashes with victory at trent Bridge last week. the final test starts at the Oval on thursday and Cook’s men can make history by becoming the first English side to win four tests at home against the aussies if they triumph.
England then play tests in the United arab Emirates against Pakistan this autumn and Cook confirmed that he wants to take his team to the Middle East.
‘there has been a fair bit of speculation over the last few weeks and months about my position as captain of the team,’ said Cook.
‘Now it’s gone really well. My gut is pretty much telling me i want to carry on, because we’ve seen the side developing.
‘ We are nowhere near the finished article and we’ve got some amazing challenges. i’d only set my heart on this summer’s ashes, could we win it or not . . . but when i woke up the next morning after trent Bridge, i thought, “actually, i want to win 4-1. i want to go and try and win in abu Dhabi”. if i’m given the opportunity i’d like to. Probably the big thing is not looking too far ahead — take one series at a time and see how you feel.’
steve smith will become australia’s test captain after the ashes following Michael Clarke’s decision to retire at the end of the series. smith, 26, already leads the one-day side and will also captain the twenty20 team in the absence of the injured aaron Finch. Fellow batsman David Warner, 28, has been named as smith’s vice-captain. ‘at 26, steve is a fine young man with extraordinary talent,’ said national selector rod Marsh.
‘He is highly regarded by the selectors and we congratulate him on being appointed to the role on an ongoing basis. He should be incredibly proud.’
Clarke, 34, confirmed his decision to retire after his side surrendered the ashes at trent Bridge.
smith had already captained the side in three tests against india last summer, when Clarke was recovering from injury. the New south Wales star has played i n 32 tests f or his country, scoring 2,952 runs at an average of 55. ‘He has big shoes to fill but everything about him suggests he is the right man for the job,’ said Marsh.
Warner has earned the vicecaptain’s role despite a history of disciplinary problems, and Marsh said of the opener: ‘David has matured and developed into an important senior figure in the australian team. We believe that he will respond well to the added responsibility of leadership.’
LEICESTERSHIRE
bottom of Division two, have been deducted 16 Championship points for five incidents of dissent at umpires or the opposition in the last year. the club, who won their first home match since 2012 this week, were already 16 points adrift of second-bottom Kent.