Alastair Cook Retains England Captaincy for ODI Series Against Sri Lanka

Alastair Cook will remain as England captain for the one-day international series against Sri Lanka.

Despite calls for 29-year-old Cook to be replaced following the 3-1 series defeat to India, the opening batsman will lead a 16-man squad to contest the seven-match series in November and December.

Stuart Broad is the most noticeable absentee from squad, having undergoing surgery on his right knee in August, while Yorkshire batsman Gary Balance has also missed out.

There are recalls, however, for all-rounder Ravi Bopara and Nottinghamshire batsman qJames Taylor.

National selector James Whitaker said: "With the ICC Cricket World Cup less than five months away we are very aware that our one-day cricket needs to develop quickly if we are to arrive at the competition ready to compete with the very best sides in the world.

"This tour to Sri Lanka allows the players and management to focus fully on improving skills in limited-overs cricket ahead of final selection for the Cricket World Cup. While conditions in Australia and New Zealand will differ to those the squad experiences in Sri Lanka, we can still make significant strides forward as a side during the series."

England ODI squad to tour Sri Lanka: Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes