Alastair Cook, 29, who was appointed to lead England’s One Day International (ODI) after the 2011 World Cup, has been removed as England’s ODI captain.
During the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka, which England lost 5-2, Alastair Cook maintained that he would not step down, and until Friday morning, he had the support of selectors. But a selectors’ meeting on Friday took the decision that Alastair Cook will be sacked as England’s captain and he will be replaced by Eoin Morgan.
[blocktext align=”left”]This came against the backdrop of a host of former England captains and cricketers – including Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart, Michael Vaughan and Graeme Swann- calling for Cook to be replaced as captain.[/blocktext]
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was under a lot of pressure from the fans and media regarding Alastair Cook, as Cook’s form with the bat in the last 2 year’s has been horrible to say the least and England have not been able to win matches under his leadership. In his last 20 ODIs, Cook averages 27.52. Cook hasn’t scored an ODI hundred in the last years.
Alastair Cook’s performance in 2014 is the worst ever performance by an English opener in a calender year and one of the worst ever.
As England’s ODI captain, Cook enjoyed some initial success, taking England to the top of ODI rankings. But, he has struggled since the Champions Trophy in 2013, Cook hasn’t presided over a series victory.
Eoin Morgan is the most popular choice for the post of ODI captain in England and the ECB have hit right cord by appointing Morgan as the captain, just a couple of months before the all important 2015 World Cup.
Eoin Morgan made his one-day international debut for his native Ireland in 2006, but switched to represent England in 2009.
England will now play a triangular series against India and Australia in Australia in January 2015. England will start fresh under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, in the final stages of preparations for the World Cup 2015. Now that Alastair Cook has been sacked as the captain, it is highly unlikely that the selectors, considering his form in the last 2 years, will pick him as a batsman. The squad for the triangular series will be confirmed on Saturday morning.
Under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, England will field a young squad for the World Cup 2015 and now, after the sacking of Alastair Cook, they will have the support of their fans as well.
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By The Cricket Lounge
