Cook hopes to serve at 2015 World Cup

BIRMINGHAM: 

England captain Alastair Cook insisted he still wanted to lead the side at the World Cup despite conceding the team’s chances of triumphing at next year’s tournament were ‘far-fetched’ following another mauling by India.

The reigning world champions inflicted a humiliating nine-wicket defeat upon England in the fourth ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

India dismissed England for just 206, a total that owed much to number seven Moeen Ali’s 67.

They then coasted to victory with more than 19 overs to spare after Ajinkya Rahane, whose 106 was his maiden ODI century, and Shikhar Dhawan (97 not out) put on 183 for the first wicket.

Defeat saw England suffer a fifth loss in their last six ODI series.

Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann recently urged Cook to quit one-day cricket and concentrate solely on Tests.

But Cook, whose nine on Tuesday meant he has gone 38 innings without an ODI hundred, faced similar calls to stand down as Test skipper from half-a-dozen former England captains earlier in the season, only to lead the team to a 3-1 series win over India.

Cook, asked if he would be England’s captain at the World Cup, replied, “If I’m allowed to be, yes.

“I don’t have a say on selection, but I’ve captained for three-and-a-half years with the goal to try to win the World Cup in Australia.

“I know that seems a bit far-fetched at the moment when we’re losing games of cricket, but there are a lot of really good players in that changing room.

“If we can improve at the rate we need to improve, we’ve got a chance. We’ve got a World Cup in six months. That’s our big focus now.”

Meanwhile, India captain MS Dhoni was left to reflect on a ‘complete game’.

“With the World Cup coming up, it is very important we start doing well outside the subcontinent,” said Dhoni, who led India to triumph on home soil at the 2011 edition.