Cook sacked as England captain: reports

  Less than two months before the World Cup, Alastair Cook has been sacked as England’s One-Day International (ODI) captain, with Eoin Morgan chosen as his replacement, according to reports from the UK.

Cook was informed of the selectors’ decision on Friday (December 19) by James Whitaker, the national selector, who had the support Angus Fraser and Mick Newell on the four-man panel, the Guardian reported.

There has still been no official confirmation from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Peter Moores, the England coach, had backed Cook to lead the team into the World Cup as recent as last week, when England lost the ODI series to Sri Lanka 5-2. Paul Downton, the ECB managing director, too has been unequivocal in his support for Cook, who has just only one half-century in his last 21 ODI innings.

After that series loss in Sri Lanka, England’s fourth in a row in ODIs, Cook had said he was hungry to continue. “I haven’t scored the runs I’d like to have – and we haven’t won the number of games I’d like to have. So if that (sacking as captain) happens, I can have no complaints,” he had said, refusing to step down on his own.

Cook, 29, took charge of the ODI team after the 2011 World Cup and has led the side in 69 ODIs, including when England were at the top of the rankings in 2012. However, he had a dismal 2014 that began with an Ashes whitewash, averaging just 27.5 in ODIs, while also embroiled in the Kevin Pietersen saga off the field.

Morgan, who began his career with Ireland and has played 107 ODIs for England, is expected to lead a 15-man squad into the tri-series next month involving Australia and India. However, there have been concerns about his recently form as well.

Former English players were quick to welcome the decision. “I think it’ll be a relief to Alastair,” said Mike Atherton, who led England in the 1990s, to Sky Sports News. “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.

“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 one-day cricket.”

Nasser Hussain, who captained England at the 2003 World Cup, praised Cook for refusing to quit as captain during his miserable run. “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, he’s not quit English cricket, he tried to fight hard but he’s gone 59 innings now in an England shirt without a hundred and this is one of the greatest batsmen we’ve ever produced.”

Michael Vaughan, who took charge of England in the 2007 World Cup, however, did not believe removing Cook significantly increased the team’s hopes of victory in next year’s tournament.

“Alastair Cook should have gone a while ago as England’s one-day captain,” he wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. “But let’s not kid ourselves. There are still problems in the team and removing Cook will not suddenly turn them into World Cup winners.”

Pietersen too welcomed Morgan’s impending appointment and said he would relish a recall under the new regime. “Great news that Eoin is new England 1-day captain. Top player, leader and bloke. Hope I get to play for him,” he tweeted. – Wisden India