Poll: Cook insists goal remains to lead England in World Cup

England captain Alastair Cook leaves the field following yesterday's defeat to India (Picture: David Davies/PA Wire).

Only a near unmissable catch by the captain himself, to end Ajinkya Rahane’s fun on a mere 106, stopped England losing by 10 wickets at Edgbaston.

The hosts mustered only 206 all out, despite Moeen Ali’s 67, and were then powerless with the ball as Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan (97no) put on 183 for India’s first wicket in a chase that lasted only 30.3 overs.

It is hard to imagine a more one-sided contest and, after India had gone 3-0 up to inflict England’s fifth series defeat in their last six, pointed questions about Cook’s future as one-day international captain were all too predictable.

As in this summer’s Test series against India, which he eventually helped to turn round 3-1 in England’s favour, Cook did not shirk the enquiries – and made it clear he intends to stick around for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year.

Asked that very question, he said: “If I’m allowed to be, yes.

“I don’t have a say on selection, but I’ve captained for three-and-a-half years with the goal to try to win the World Cup in Australia.

“I know that seems a bit far-fetched at the moment when we’re losing games of cricket, but there are a lot of really good players in that changing room.

“If we can improve at the rate we need to improve, we’ve got a chance and that’s what we have to believe in.

“I know when you lose games of cricket, no one (else) does, but in the dressing room we have to.”

For the third successive match, England were not just beaten but trounced.

“It was a tough performance to take, to lose by nine wickets,” Cook added. “We were behind the game very quickly and we never got back into it.”

England’s next assignment is to try to avoid a series whitewash at Headingley on Friday.

Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance aimed to on-drive first-change Mohammed Shami only to pop a simple catch to cover off a leading edge to be out for seven.

Club-mate Joe Root made 44 and shared a stand of 80 with Eoin Morgan, but both then went to spin in the space of four overs.