LONDON: England captain Alastair Cook will lead the side at next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after being named on Wednesday as skipper for an upcoming One-day International series in Sri Lanka, national selector James Whitaker confirmed.

“He [Cook] will be our leader at the World Cup,” Whitaker told Sky Sports after the 16-man squad for a seven-match ODI series in Sri Lanka in November-December was announced.

Left-handed opener Cook faced questions over his form and leadership throughout all of England’s recent home campaign but answered his Test critics by leading the side to a 3-1 series win over India following a defeat by Sri Lanka.

However, doubts about his suitability for white-ball cricket persisted following a 3-1 ODI series loss to world champions India that included several thumping defeats.

But despite a strike-rate of under 80, relatively slow by modern limited-overs standards, he has, as widely forecast, retained his place as both captain and opener in the ODI set-up.

Meanwhile, batsman James Taylor and Ravi Bopara were both given a chance to stake a claim for a World Cup spot by being included in the Sri Lanka squad.

Taylor, who has been capped twice for England in the 50-over format, is included in an ODI squad for the first time since September 2013 and is joined by Essex all-rounder Bopara, a surprise omission from the India series.

But Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance missed out, having played in just the one ODI against India, with the experienced Ian Bell retaining his place among England’s contenders for a top three spot.

“With the ICC World Cup less than five months away we are very aware that our ODI cricket needs to develop quickly if we are to arrive at the competition ready to compete with the very best sides in the world,” said Whitaker in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.

“This tour to Sri Lanka allows the players and management to focus fully on improving skills in limited overs cricket ahead of final selection for the Cricket World Cup.”

Stuart Broad is currently sidelined with a knee injury but the pace bowler is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup.

And with squads for the global tournament restricted to 15 players, it looks as if at least one of the seamers named in the Sri Lanka party won’t be selected for the World Cup. England’s task will be complicated as the traditionally spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka are set to be very different to those they encounter in Australia and New Zealand.

But the last thing England need now is another crushing ODI series reverse — they’ve already lost their last five ODI campaigns under Cook.

England also announced on Wednesday a ‘shadow’ performance squad, some of whom will also spend time in Sri Lanka.

Squad:

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wicket-keeper), Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.

Itinerary:

Nov 16: Squad leaves for Sri Lanka

Nov 21: First warm-up v Sri Lanka ‘A’, SSC, Colombo

Nov 23: Second warm-up v Sri Lanka ‘A’, Tamil Union Oval, Colombo

Nov 26: First ODI (d/n), Colombo

Nov 29: Second ODI, Colombo

Dec 3: Third ODI (d/n), Hambantota

Dec 6: Fourth ODI, Colombo

Dec 10: Fifth ODI (d/n), Pallekelle

Dec 13: Sixth ODI, Pallekelle

Dec 16: Seventh ODI (d/n), Colombo.

Published in Dawn, September 25th , 2014