Moores backs Cook

England coach Peter Moores has insisted he won’t be a party to taking the captaincy off Alastair Cook in a bid to get the opener back to his best form with the bat.

It is now 24 innings since Cook scored the last of his England record 25 Test centuries, a sequence that includes the 100-run second Test defeat by Sri Lanka at Headingley on Tuesday that gave the tourists a two-match series 1-0.

But Moores said there was no question of Cook giving up the leadership of the side, even on a temporary basis, ahead of the start of next month’s five-Test series at home to India.

“No it wouldn’t cross my mind,” Moores said on Wednesday. “The key here is, does Alastair want to captain England? Yes he desperately does want to.”

After their 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, England installed a new managing director in Paul Downton, a new chairman of selectors in James Whitaker and recalled Moores for a second spell as head coach.

However, all three insisted it was vital Cook remained as England captain.

England great Geoffrey Boycott has insisted the trio’s fear of being made to look foolish lay behind their continued support of Cook.