English skipper denies he will step down following loss
Captain Cook remains steadfast
Alastair Cook has rubbished rumours he will step down from the England captaincy following his side's dramatic last-over defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the second Test in Headingley.
Cook has averaged just 19.50 at the top of the order this series; the fourth lowest average in the side behind tail-enders Stuart Broad, Liam Plunkett and James Anderson, and has come under fire from commentators and former England players alike.
Despite calls for him to step down, Cook says he is committed to leading this England side.
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"I never quit on anything," he said after the match.
"I'm a determined bloke and I'm determined to turn this round.
"It is tough. You're there at the top of the order and I need to score runs.
"I haven't done it for 12 Test matches so it becomes harder and harder.
"If you do it for much longer you won't be asked to captain England.
"All I can do is work bloody hard on my game."
In the last seven Test matches dating back to the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, Cook has averaged just 23.14 compared to his career average of 45.90.
"It's a huge honour (to captain England) and I'm in it for the long haul.
"I believe I'm the right man to do the job, but obviously if someone else decides that's not the case so be it."
Last batsman, and man-of-the-series, James Anderson lasted 55 balls with centurion Moeen Ali before gloving a catch to leg gully off the second-last ball of the day to gift Sri Lanka their first Test series win on English soil.
"We showed character today, especially Moeen but also the last three wickets, and Jimmy at the end as you saw.
"We fell just short. I’m proud of the determination, but we're kicking ourselves."