England vs Sri Lanka: Alastair Cook reveals how close he was to quitting captaincy

'I had about two per cent left in me,' says batsman on eve of Sri Lanka series

Alastair Cook, England's Test captain, is just shy of 10,000 Test runs (AP)

If Alastair Cook was to pick his least favourite Test venue in the world Headingley is almost certain to be top of the list. So, it is not without irony that it is likely to be where England’s captain reaches the historic landmark of 10,000 Test runs.

Cook needs just 36 more over the coming five days against Sri Lanka to become the first Englishman – and, at 31 years and five months, the youngest batsman from anywhere - to achieve the feat. However, given the venue, where England have lost two of their past three Tests, and the opposition, Cook can be forgiven for thinking it might not happen in this first international of the summer.

It was here in Leeds two years ago where the opener suffered the lowest moment of his England career when defeat by Sri Lanka pushed him to the brink of quitting the Test captaincy. In the end, it was Cook’s wife, Alice, who persuaded him to carry on. But how close did he come to throwing in the towel?

“Close enough that you wouldn’t want to get any closer,” he said on Wednesday. “I’ve never really quit on anything. I probably had about two per cent left in me saying if you walk out now you still have a bit more to offer that side. So I suppose it was me being stubborn, probably, and not quitting. I don’t really want to be known as a quitter.”

Results were not the only reason for Cook’s soul searching back in 2014. In the bloodletting that followed England’s Ashes whitewash in Australia the previous January, Kevin Pietersen was sacked, with Cook forced to pull the lever on the guillotine. His on-field captaincy was also heavily criticised, especially from Shane Warne, the former Australian leg-spinner who is a close friend of Pietersen’s.

Tellingly, when asked why he was pushed to the brink, Cook recalls the exact date of that meeting with Pietersen. “I just thought that what had gone on since January the 30th that year to what had gone on then [Headingley] really. It was a tough three or four months off the field as much as on the field.”

The contrast with the present couldn’t be starker, with England heading into this first Test emboldened by series wins against Australia and South Africa in the past year. “It’s turned around pretty well,” said Cook. “The guys have really responded to where we were then. A new breed of players came in who have really taken to international cricket and they’ve driven the side on as well. Everyone knows it and it’s happened with the senior guys as well. It’s a good blend at the moment.”

It’s turned around pretty well. The guys have really responded to where we were then

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An indication of Cook’s confidence is the fact he took the unprecedented step of naming his team on the eve of this first Test. As expected, James Vince will come in at No 5 for his Test debut and Steven Finn will take his place in the attack ahead of Jake Ball, the Nottinghamshire bowler who will have to wait for his first England appearance unless there are any late injuries.

There were also positive words for two men whose places in the team are under scrutiny. Both opener Alex Hales and No 3 Nick Compton have points to prove following underwhelming series returns in South Africa. Cook admitted: “Until someone really grabs that opening opportunity and nails it then there’s always going to be questions asked.

“Alex is the man in possession at the moment and he can certainly play at this level. You want to get a big score to try and prove that to people. That’s his challenge and it’s the same for Nick. The guy’s a fighter and he’s just got to relax and play.”

Nick Compton (above) was given words of support from captain Alastair Cook (Getty)

Compton’s credentials as a team player will also be tested by being handed the poisoned chalice of the short-leg fielding position vacated by the enforced retirement of James Taylor. Vince may be the newcomer but the Hampshire captain is too good a slip fielder to waste there and will instead take his place next to Cook and Joe Root at third slip.

Cook also admitted England’s status as favourites for this series was “absolutely irrelevant”. However, the same could be said of sport in general when you compare it to the tragic events taking place in Sri Lanka, where mudslides have devastated central areas of the country.

Among the dead is a relative of one of Sri Lanka’s support staff. Captain Angelo Mathews and his players will wear black armbands during the first Test as a mark of respect. “We’re so sad to hear about all the casualties,” said Mathews. “There are hundreds of thousands of people who were affected and we want to show our love and support. We will wear a black armband for all of them out of respect.”

Meanwhile, the England & Wales Cricket Board has confirmed the introduction this summer of a "Super Series" points system that will determine the ultimate winner of each tour, starting with Sri Lanka's. Andrew Strauss, director of England cricket, has championed the concept - which offers four points for a Test win and two for a limited-overs victory - as a tool to give bilateral series more context and maintain interest among fans for the entire summer.

England: Alastair Cook (captain), Alex Hales, Nick Compton, Joe Root, James Vince, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn

Sri Lanka (probable): Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (wicketkeeper), Angelo Mathews (captain), Milinda Siriwardena, Dasun Shanaka, Rangana Herath, Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Shaminda Eranga