Thursday 2 October 2014 14:04, UK
Jimmy Anderson insists England have always been fully behind skipper Alastair Cook and never had any doubt he would remain captain for the 2015 World Cup.
The England and Wales Cricket Board last week confirmed that Cook will lead England for winter matches against Sri Lanka, India and Australia, before skippering the side at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand over February and March.
Several former players had called for Cook to be replaced following one-day international series defeats to India and Sri Lanka this summer, but Anderson revealed the England squad have always believed the 29-year-old is the right man for the job.
So to show the character he has to come through those, it speaks a lot about the guy. It was a huge test of character: it's a credit to himself the way he's handled it all.
"For us it was never a question really, it was all speculation with the captaincy," Anderson said. "From the players' point of view we never thought anyone else was going to lead us to that World Cup, we never doubted.
"For him I think he's had more low points than most this summer, the amount of chat that was going on about his captaincy in the Test matches then the one-dayers.
"So to show the character he has to come through those, it speaks a lot about the guy. It was a huge test of character: it's a credit to himself the way he's handled it all.
"I'm sure he had a lot of doubts in his mind of whether he should have captained the Test team or the one day team. But all I can say is from a player's point of view there was never any doubt over who should be captain."
England came from behind to beat India 3-1 in the Test series between the sides earlier this summer and Anderson hopes they can draw strength from that ahead of an exciting winter of cricket.
"It's a really exciting winter, with the World Cup at the end,” he said. "The two series we've got, in Sri Lanka and then against Australia and India, it should give us a good chance of preparing well for the World Cup.
"It's an exciting prospect for any player, so all the players are going to do their utmost to get in the World Cup squad.
"There were quite a few distractions throughout the summer, and the way we dealt with it, especially going one-nil down to India then coming back, it was a huge response for us.
"The one day series as it was, with questions being asked about the captaincy, as players we just got on with it. Things like that are down to the selection panel not the media.
"We're really excited about the winter and hopefully we can put in a good show."
