Bopara insists players are all behind Cook to stay as England’s captain and ‘turn it around’

Ravi Bopara has voiced his confidence, and that of his England peers, that Cook remains the best man for the job despite the captain’s own growing doubts.

A glum-faced Cook revealed that he would consider stepping down from the captaincy after the one-day international series against Australia was meekly conceded with a seven-wicket loss in Sydney on Sunday.

Australia eased past England’s 243-9 with 10 overs to spare to go 3-0 up in the five-game series.

Hot on the heels of the 5-0 Ashes whitewash, Cook failed to rule out calling time on his ODI leadership or, most significantly, his Test tenure when he returns home after the final game of the ODI series in Adelaide on January 26.

Bopara was left shocked by Cook’s comments but, after speaking with a man he has grown up alongside since they were teenagers at Essex, he is certain his friend has the will to remain.

“I think, naturally, Alastair would be down. We’ve lost three games out of three and that’s a natural reaction straight after the game,” said Bopara.

“I am surprised (by his comments). I think he’s the right man for it.

“I haven’t spoken to him in detail, but I would love for him to carry on in both formats.

“I do believe that your best player should be your captain and I still believe that he is our best player.

“Batting at the top of the order, he’s the type of guy that will go out and score hundreds for England.

“One hundred per cent the other players see it the same way.”

Cook was backed to remain as captain by the England and Wales Cricket Board during the fifth Test in Sydney and Bopara’s words indicate a united front behind the left-hander from the players, too.

That would come as a welcome boost to Cook, who Bopara concedes may have lost some confidence following a harrowing winter in which his captaincy has come under sustained criticism as the defeats have piled up.

“He may have lost self-belief, a little bit, but speaking to him on Sunday I strongly got the impression that he’s the right man for the job,” Bopara said.

“It’s just a tough time. He’s the sort of guy who will turn it around.

“I think this is good for him and he will come out a much better person.”

Cook’s captaincy record before heading Down Under was impressive after he led England to a rare Test series success in India immediately after taking over the leadership 15 months ago.

An Ashes win followed in the summer, while in the 50-over format England went within a 
whisker of winning the Champions Trophy in June.

Cook’s personal record is even more convincing and, despite his tough run in Australia, while on tour he has brought up his 100th Test and become the youngest batsman to reach 8,000 runs.

“Let’s just remember he is one of our most experienced players. He’s got a lot of experience, he knows what he’s doing,” Bopara added.

“We go way back. What he has done in his career, for a young man, he’s done a lot.”

Bopara was able to report a softening in Cook’s mood the day after defeat also, as England made the four-and-a-half-hour flight to Perth for the fourth ODI on Friday.

Australia are set to rest four key names – including captain Michael Clarke – at the WACA Ground, in what looms as a golden opportunity to end England’s duck.

“He’s in a good space,” added Bopara. “We had breakfast on Monday morning and he was in a great space. We were back to our normal jokey, laughing sort of way.”

In addition to Clarke’s absence in Perth, Australia will also rest Ashes winners David Warner, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson.

George Bailey, who was named Australia’s ODI player of the year yesterday, is due to captain the team should he overcome a hamstring problem.

While Australia are set to be under-strength, Bopara denied there would be any extra motivation to secure a win for their captain.

“It’s not just about Alastair, it’s about the rest of the team as well,” he said. “We want to win because we’re here to win.”