I'm not a quitter - Alastair Cook determined to continue as England captain

A disconsolate Alastair Cook after their Test series loss to Sri Lanka

Alastair Cook started off his tenure as England Test captain with a bang, with a rare series win in India, followed by a 3-0 Ashes victory in England last year. But results have deserted Cook and England of late, with England now going 8 Tests without a victory, their longest winless run since way back in 1996-97.

There have been growing calls from some eminent former cricketers - most notably Shane Warne and Geoffrey Boycott - of sacking Alastair Cook as England captain. The overwhelming sentiment is that he is just not up to the job, with his tactical nous being under intense scrutiny, after their first ever Test series loss to Sri Lanka on home soil. His tactics, especially against Angelo Mathews on Day 4 of the 2nd Test at Headingley, Leeds, left a lot to be desired.

While Cook’s captaincy has been heavily scrutinized of late, what has not been helping Cook’s cause is his own batting form. From the outset of the 2013 Ashes series in England, Cook has gone 12 Tests and 24 innings without making a century. In the same period, his average has been a meager 25.04, nowhere near good enough for an England opening batsman.

Despite his recent travails though, he is determined not to throw in the towel and has stated his desire to continue as the England captain, unless the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decide otherwise.

“I've never quit on anything I've done," Cook said. “I've given it my all, all the time. Every 104 games I've played for England, I've left everything out there. It's the same situation here. Until that moment somebody tells me they don't want me to be captain, I'll still be here. I'm incredibly proud to be England captain. I've been selected to do it.

“If someone decides I'm not the right person for the job and the results don't justify me doing it, then fine. But until that moment, I'm desperate to try to turn English cricket around."

Cook’s early spell as captain was hassle-free because of the fact that his own game was in good order, and he realizes, more than anyone, that he needs to start personally contributing sooner rather than later.

“No one’s guaranteed a place in this England team,” he said. You’ve seen with the young players around now, they are pushing for places. That’s the way it should always be.

“With runs at the moment hard to come by, it does put more pressure on me. I think I've got to go back to what I've done in the past. Bowlers do get tired. I've got to be so strong mentally and let them come to my areas, I believe. But it comes down to being mentally strong at the crease. I've done it in the past. I've just got to drag that mental strength out again.

“It's an incredibly tough challenge, a tough job, there's no doubt about it, especially opening the batting.”

While the series loss to Sri Lanka was ultimately disappointing from Cook’s perspective, he did feel that the performances of the younger players, like Moeen Ali and Gary Ballance, was something that England could draw a lot of positives from going forward.

“We've seen some amazing things from some young players who've come in, and announced themselves in international cricket. It was an incredible effort on the final day, with Moeen's hundred. To play like he played, for a free-flowing batsman to be so controlled, measured and calm under that pressure can only bode well for the future.”