England's captain Alastair Cook hurt by friend and England spinner Graeme Swann's comment that England would be better off without his captaincy at the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015
Graeme Swann and Alastair Cook
Cardiff: Alastair Cook numbers Graeme Swann as only a "so-called friend" after his former teammate's assertion that England would be better off without his captaincy at the World Cup.
Alastair Cook. Pic/Getty Images
Cook's team put in a wretched performance with ball and then bat on the way to a 133-run defeat against India in Cardiff — after which he was at a loss to explain why they were "not at the races".
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There was little to cheer on the field as Suresh Raina hit a brilliant 75-ball hundred in India's 304-6 and then England were bowled out for 161 in pursuit of a revised target of 295.
But if anything, Cook appeared even less pleased by ex-England off-spinner Swann's remarks from the sidelines in his role as a pundit, that for his own sake and his team's he should give ODIs a miss for the remainder of his career.
Graeme Swann
"I don't think it's that helpful — especially from a so-called friend," said Cook.
Swann is adamant Cook's ODI strike rate does not set the tone that will make England competitive in next year's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
"He's entitled to his opinion," added Cook. "(But) it's not ideal for me, especially when you get through the summer I've had.
"I am a little bit (disappointed) because he is a good friend of mine, and has been a supporter. It's not helpful at this time, because I am going to be captain in this World Cup.
"I've done it for three-and-a-half years. We're going to build up to that, and we've got a good chance," he said.
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