Cook hurt by Swann remarks

England

England captain Alastair Cook has expressed disappointment, after former public criticism from former team-mate Graeme Swann recently.

England captain Alastair Cook has expressed disappointment, after former public criticism from former team-mate Graeme Swann recently.

Cook has been retained as ODI skipper despite a period of almost 30 innings without a century in Test match cricket. Series defeats to Australia and Sri Lanka earlier this year, too, have led to a growth in condemnation.

While last month's trio of patient half-centuries and a three-one series triumph over India has somewhat quelled the disapproval, Swann's insistence that England ostensibly don't have a "cat in hell's chance of winning the World Cup" with Cook at the helm has prompted a swift response.

"Graeme's remarks were not that helpful, especially from a so-called friend, but he's entitled to his opinion. But it's not ideal for me, especially after getting through the summer I've had. I have not spoken to him about it. The phone is always open the other way. It's a little bit disappointing," said Cook.

"He's a good friend and has been a supporter and it's not helpful at this time because I am going to go and captain in this World Cup. We're going to build up to that and we've got a good chance although obviously if we play like that we aren't going to win many games of cricket."

The English have been pooled with Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland at the 2015 limited-overs showpiece. Their first match will be against the Aussies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 14 February.

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