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Alastair Cook 'gutted' to lose England one-day captaincy as Eoin Morgan is confirmed for World Cup

Image: Alastair Cook: Poor tour of Sri Lanka sealed fate

Alastair Cook says it will take him a long time to get over his removal as England's one-day captain.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board on Saturday confirmed Eoin Morgan's appointment as the new skipper ahead of next year's World Cup.

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England selector James Whitaker says Alastair Cook is gutted after losing the ODI captaincy

Cook's lean form with the bat - he has gone 46 one-day internationals without making a hundred - has cost him his place at the showpiece tournament as well as the captaincy.

He said: "I am gutted to be left out of the World Cup squad and it is likely to take me a while to get over the disappointment.

"That said, I wish Peter Moores, Eoin and the lads all the best for the World Cup. I would also like to thank all the players and fans who have supported me during my time as one-day captain."

Honour

Morgan's first assignment as full-time captain will be next month's tri-series against Australia and India, and he will then lead a 15-man squad into February's World Cup opener against the Aussies on February 14.

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I firmly believe that with the players currently involved in the one-day set up we have the makings of a very good one-day side, a young side that can surprise people at the World Cup
New captain Eoin Morgan

He said: "It is a huge honour to captain England and I am delighted to be leading the one-day side. I firmly believe that with the players currently involved in the one-day set up, we have the makings of a very good one-day side, a young side that can surprise people at the World Cup.

"We all recognise we still have a lot of work to do on our one-day game but the potential of this group of players is huge and it is now up to us as players to turn that potential into consistent performances on the international stage starting next month against Australia and India."

Cook scored just 119 runs in six innings during the recent 5-2 series defeat in Sri Lanka, a run of form that sealed his fate when the four selectors - overseen by ECB managing director Paul Downton - met on Friday to finalise a squad.

National selector James Whitaker said: "We spent a considerable time discussing the make-up of a squad that gives England the best possible chance of success at the World Cup which begins in less than two months.

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England managing director Paul Downton says the series defeat to Sri Lanka was the tipping point for Alastair Cook

"Having reviewed the recent series against Sri Lanka we came to the conclusion that there was no place for Alastair Cook amongst our strongest 15 one-day players."

Risk

Downton argued only this week it would be a big risk to change captain so close to the World Cup, but he did not have an official say in Friday's decision.

He said: "I have complete confidence in the decision made by the selectors, and having spent time with Alastair he accepts that it has been made in the best interests of the one-day side.

"Alastair remains an integral part of England cricket and continues to have a vital role in developing our emerging Test side. I would like to thank him for his leadership of the one-day side since 2011, a period which saw the team reach number one in the world."

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