England head coach Trevor Bayliss has claimed that Alastair Cook is likely to still be captain when the nation take on Australia in the 2017-18 Ashes series.
Last month, the 31-year-old batsman poured doubt over his future as England skipper by suggesting in an interview that he could quit at any time.
However, Bayliss is confident that Cook is committed to at least next winter, when the team will try to retain the urn Down Under.
"He's talking about the next Ashes series and being out in Australia," Bayliss told the BBC's Test Match Special. "Sometimes there are little comments made along the way and they get blown out of all proportion.
"He's certainly up for the fight. I haven't had any discussion with him any other way and that's what we've been working towards. I was as surprised as anyone when I saw that in the papers."
Cook has played in 138 Test matches, scoring 10,943 runs since making his debut against India in 2006.
Danielle Joynson
