Wednesday 17 September 2014 10:23, UK
Alastair Cook would be "devastated" if he were to be relieved of his position as England's one-day captain before next year's World Cup and still believes his side can win the trophy.
Cook's position at the head of the ODI team has come under scrutiny following a dreadful run of results.
The opener has presided over five successive series defeats in the 50-over format, with former team-mate and friend Graeme Swann calling for Cook to focus solely on Test cricket and next summer's Ashes.
Yet the 29-year-old insists he is the man to lead England at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next February, although he added he would take it on the chin if the England and Wales Cricket Board thought otherwise.
"I'm hoping to carry on. Of course I'd be devastated if I stop now but if they think it's the right decision for English cricket for me to go as one-day captain I'd have to accept it," Cook, whose own personal form has been criticised with a run of just one half-century in 16 ODIs, said to the Daily Mail.
"Yes my game has had a tough 12 months but I think we saw signs of real improvement in the Test series and I was starting to get there in the one-day games.
"What has frustrated me is getting a lot of starts without going on. If you turn one of those 40s to a 120 things change very quickly. I've just got to keep working on my game because I know it will turn back in my favour. I just know my record suggests I'm good enough to play international cricket."
I've just got to keep working on my game because I know it will turn back in my favour. I just know my record suggests I'm good enough to play international cricket.
The criticism of Cook reached its peak during the recent 3-1 defeat to India, who won by considerable margins in their victories before losing a dead rubber at Headingley.
Cook acknowledges his side must improve before they take part in the World Cup, with a series in Sri Lanka on the horizon, but has not yet written off their chances.
"The one-day series was a blow and it shows how much work we've got to do before the World Cup,' Cook added. "But absolutely we can still win it.
"You've got to peak at the right time to win a World Cup but it was a shock how badly we played in those first two or three games.
"I think we have a squad of about 20 to select from and we have a lot of work to do, initially as individuals in the two or three months up until Sri Lanka. The potential for growth is huge."
