Cook still favourite to lead England for Ashes

Alastair Cook is the evens favourite with Coral to captain England in the First Test against Australia in the Ashes next summer, while the current skipper is even shorter at 1-3 to play in that opening match at the SWALEC stadium in Cardiff.

“We still think Cook will lead the side for the visit of the Aussies next year and that is reflected in the betting. The market is likely to change though if England go on to lose this series against India,” said Coral’s John Hill

**Who will captain England against Australia in the First Test

Evs Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, Joe Root, 6 Eoin Morgan, Stuart Broad, 10 Jimmy Anderson, Andrew Gale, Moeen Ali, 25 Gary Ballance, Sam Robson, 50 Daryl Mitchell, Kevin Pietersen.

**Who will play in the First Test in 2015

1-3 Alastair Cook, Joe Root, 1-2 Ian Bell, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, 4-7 Gary Balance, 8-11 Ben Stokes, 4-5 Sam Robson, 5-6 Moeen Ali, 5-4 Jos Buttler, 6-4 Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Steven Finn, 7-4 Simon Kerrigan, 5-2 Tim Bresnan.

**Next permanent Test captain

6-4 Ian Bell, 2 Joe Root, 6 Stuart Broad, Eion Morgan, 10 Jimmy Anderson, 20 Moeen Ali, Andrew Gale, 25 Sam Robson, Gary Balance, 50 Daryl Mitchell, Kevin Pietersen

**Kevin Pietersen to play for England again in any format

5-2