Alastair Cook unsure on England future

England captain Alastair Cook admitted that he wants to continue leading the side after the conclusion of the ongoing Ashes, as he expects some exciting challenges ahead.

“We wanted to avenge that because it was deeply embarrassing”, Finn said.

England’s fast bowler Steven Finn was one of the main contributors in England’s Ashes win – eight wickets at Edgbaston helped his team gain a 2-1 lead – and his personal high, after a lengthy layoff riddled by doubts, coincided with a return to form of England as a team. Peter Moores was appointed the new coach, but his reputation suffered a hit when he oversaw England to a poor World Cup campaign that saw them knocked out by Bangladesh in the first round despite a bloated and generous schedule.

“That usually comes at a tough time when you think, “I can’t force myself to go through this again”.

He told the Sunday Times: “I had a big wobble in Antigua (during the first Test) for no apparent reason. If and when I get it I will be hugely delighted because I have been out of the team for along time and they are the sort of moments you cherish”.

“Maybe I was showing the effects of what had happened with the one-day captaincy”.

“It seldom came easy for Pup, with his back-related injuries forcing him to work harder than most, especially over the last five years or so”. That’s when your character is exposed.

Broad was quick to salute Cook’s influence and especially his ability to end the divide between past and present England players.

“He should look back on his career with enormous satisfaction and pride”.

“It shows that you’re still hungry for the fight”.

“The crowd will be right behind us at The Oval“.

Spinner Moeen Ali has yet to have a starring role with the ball during the series, but the triumph has still left him feeling on cloud nine. Michael Clarke will retire after the Oval Test, having been harried throughout the series, but Broad will have a couple more chances to extend his record of 11 dismissals against the Australia captain. “They have bowled wider and wider to him across the series, and if he’s going to persist with that pronounced pre-movement, it will probably continue against most of the bowling attacks Steve faces”, he said.

Not everyone has been keen to pay tribute to departing Australia captain Michael Clarke, leaving former skipper Ricky Ponting disappointed.

“But coming in the middle of our little week off just to make sure we knew the captain was sitting at home thinking about it to make sure we are all on the money left us with plenty of determination that this will be a great week”.

With a game to go, the problems are all with Australia, but it shouldn’t disguise how well England have played.