JOIN US A defiant Alastair Cook vowed to fight on as captain after England slumped to another defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley on Tuesday, losing the two-match series 1-0.
The home team fought gallantly on the final day and almost snatched a highly unlikely draw before last man James Anderson spooned a Shaminda Eranga delivery to Rangana Herath at square leg, handing Sri Lanka their first series victory in England.
Anderson (0) and Moeen Ali, who compiled a brilliant backs-to-the-wall 108 not out, defended valiantly as the last-wicket pair negotiated 20 nail-biting overs in the final session before succumbing in the penultimate ball of the day.
The real damage, though, for England was caused on Monday when they let slip a good position as Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews struck a magnificent 160 and paceman Dhammika Prasad took four wickets to reduce the hosts to 57 for five.
The defeat came on the back of a humiliating 5-0 Ashes rout in Australia at the start of the year but Cook, who has also struggled for runs and is now without a Test century in 24 innings, said he would fight on.
"I've never quit on anything," the skipper told reporters after his team were bowled out for 249 to lose by 100 runs. "I'm incredibly proud to be the England captain.
"It's a role you're selected to do. If someone decides I'm not the right person for the job and the results don't justify me doing it, then fine.”