Wednesday 17 December 2014 15:44, UK
England captain Alastair Cook has reflected on a tumultuous 12 months for himself and his team, describing 2014 as a "hell of a year".
Cook is under intense pressure as England's one-day captain after the team's latest series defeat by Sri Lanka, having come through a similar period of scrutiny as Test skipper in the summer.
The fall-out from England's miserable Ashes tour has seen a major turnover of players in the national set-up and Andy Flower's departure as coach, while the controversy over Kevin Pietersen's removal from the fold also added to the strain on Cook.
It's very easy sitting watching... it's harder walking out and doing it.
"It's been a hell of a year. We haven't won a lot of games, and there's been a big change in personnel," said Cook.
"It's certainly been a year of transition - from 15 months ago, when we were winning the Ashes at home, to what's happened. It's been a year you wouldn't expect, but England have found some outstanding cricketers as well."
Cook's performances with the bat in Sri Lanka were short of his usual standards, and he is fighting to convince his critics - which include former England captains Sir Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan - that he can make a useful contribution to his side's World Cup cause next year.
His strike rate of 67.23 and average of 19.83 has been used as evidence of his inability to adapt to the demands of modern one-day batting.
"The way Sanga [Kumar Sangakkara] and Dilshan played in particular, they've obviously taken the right options - good enough to hit the boundaries, and stay in," he said.
"We've been hitting the boundaries, and not staying in. There's not many players who've been at the top of the game for long periods and haven't had tough moments.
"There's no one, I don't think... maybe Bradman is one. Everyone has really tough moments, as a batter particularly, because it's a hard game.
"You're playing against the best players in the world, week in week out, at the top of the order. It's very easy sitting watching... it's harder walking out and doing it."
Cook, who turns 30 on Christmas Day, has accepted that no-one has a "divine right" to play for England but has also reiterated his "hunger" to keep hold of his role as captain.
