Alastair Cook will be given one final chance tomorrow to prove that he deserves to be given the captaincy before England name their World Cup squad.

A confident batting display from Cook — as well as a resounding victory for the team in the final match against Sri Lanka — may salvage his chances to continue as captain after what has been another poor display in the one-day international tour of Sri Lanka.

National selector James Whitaker gave Cook assurances before England embarked on the ODI series by saying that he was the “unique leader” and was supported “100 per cent” as England’s World Cup captain.