Considered quitting Test captaincy several times: Cook

London, July 7 (IANS) England Test skipper Alastair Cook has admitted that he came close to resigning from his post on several occasions.

Cook took over from Andrew Strauss as Test skipper in 2012 and has enjoyed plenty of success during his time at the helm.

But there have been tough times, too, not least England's 5-0 whitewash defeat in Australia in 2013-14, and the 31-year-old has revealed he almost quit the post more than once.

"I've lived on the edge for quite a number of years as captain in terms of wanting to jack it in and questions about the job," Cook, who recently became the first England player to pass 10,000 Test runs, was quoted as saying by The Sun on Thursday.

"There were times when I thought I'd go, for sure. I spoke to my wife, Alice, about packing it in. I'd rather not say exactly when but I've got them written down."

Most recently, Cook resolved to step down in 2015, deciding during the series against New Zealand that he would call time on the captaincy following last year's home Ashes series against Australia.

But he changed his mind after winning the opening two Tests on the way to a 3-2 Ashes series triumph.

"I don't like talking about it because you end up doubting yourself. But, yes, I was very close to going at the end of the Ashes last year. But we won two Tests in 10 days at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge and I woke up the next day and thought, this side has so much potential and I still want to be part of it," the opening batsman said.

Looking ahead, Cook would like to lead England to Ashes victory on Australian soil in 2017-18, but is well aware things could change before then.

"If I feel the team is getting a bit stale, bored with me and the next generation is pushing on, then it will be time to go," the England skipper added.

--IANS

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