Why Cook HAD to go.

It's been far, far too long in coming. But finally Alistair Cook has been relieved of the ODI captaincy. 

According to 'unconfirmed and widespread reports' Cook has been relieved of the captaincy and replaced by Eoin Morgan. 


For the sake of England's chance in the World Cup and for the sake of Alistair Cook's Test career (and sanity) he needed to go. 

Cook has gone 45 innings without an ODI century and looked like a walking wicket in the recent series vs Sri Lanka. 

Another criticism of Cook's place in the ODI team is his paltry strike-rate of 71 which puts pressure on those around him - notably Alex Hales against India - to take risks they usually wouldn't. 

In Australia, scores of 300+ will be common and a run-a-ball strike-rate is required; something Cook couldn't offer the team.

The decision of the replacement captain was a tough choice. There were two outstanding candidates in Joe Root and Eoin Morgan. By going for Morgan, England have taken the 'safe' option and opted for Morgan who has previous international captaincy experience.

The ECB could have chosen to copy Cricket Australia and give the captaincy to a young player in form with domestic captaincy experience which both Steve Smith - Australia's new Test captain - and Joe Root have.

However, this would have placed further pressure on Cook's shoulders after a less than impressive summer in Test matches. 

Morgan will look to lead the team by example once again as he has done previously. 

The left-hander is in a difficult patch of form himself - one century in 19 innings - but has proven that being captain brings out the best in him as his scores have shown:

George Dobell tweeted that not only was keeping Cook in the side harming Cook but indeed those in the side with him - for example, Ali having to take even more risks with Cook's slow scoring - and even those not in the side because of him; eg. Alex Hales.

The decision should have been made at the end of the summer when England were ruthlessly demolished by India. However, the decision is better late than never and now England have the Tri-Series in Australia alongside India and a minimum of four games left to find the perfect balance in the side.

Hales, who has had success in the Big Bash in Australia, will likely move into the opening slot to replace Cook in the side.

The debacle over the captaincy removal will cast more doubt on the position of the ECB's Managing Director Paul Downton. 

After making the controversial decision to sack Kevin Pietersen for multiple reasons that are yet unknown; Downton has now been placed in an awkward position.

Before Friday's decision, Downton stated: "'He is not captain forever, of course he is not, but to the specific question ‘who is the best person to take us to the World Cup?’, from the discussion we had in September, it’s Alastair Cook.”

He was also sitting in on the selectors meeting where Cook was eventually removed as England captain in a 'non-selecting' role. The reason Downton sat in on the meeting is unknown with Michael Vaughan suggesting that Moores' might need Downton's backing 'in case the other selectors argue for Cook to go'.

After giving Cook his backing publicly and sitting in on the selection meeting, Downton has lost credibility and his position could now be considered untenable.

England will now be playing catch-up with other nations in World Cup preparation and will be hoping for a strong showing in Australia to paper over the obvious cracks.