politics are realigning. we know what we're in transition from, not yet what we're in transition to. allan little, bbc news. now, just before we go, a reminder of our main story tonight. the aftermath of the terror attack at a christmas market in berlin in which 12 people died. a candlelit vigil is being held tonight on the square where the attack took place. local residents and visitors have gathered to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and the dozens of injured when a lorry ploughed into the crowd. chancellor angela merkel and other senior german officials attended a service of remembrance held at the kaiser wilhelm church, which is located next to the square. she urged germans not to be paralysed by fear. tonight, berlin's brandenberg gate is illuminated with the colours of the german flag in tribute to those who lost their lives and the dozens of people injured. good night. hi, good evening —

i'm damian johnson. ahead on sportsday: time for captain cook to walk the plank after england's humiliation in india, according to one former test skipper. a four—hour career—saving operation for former wimbledon champion petra kvitova after a knife attack in her own home. and peterbrough‘s fa cup dreams could me made in chelsea, after winning through to a money—spinning third—round tie at stamford bridge. thank you forjoining us.

england's cricket captain alistair cook says now isn't the "right time" for him to make a decision on his future after his side collapsed to defeat on the final day of the final test against india. england were beaten by an innings and 75 runs, a result which means they lose the series 4—0 and drop to fifth in the world rankings. henry moeran is in chennai for us. england's task today was in theory and on paper straight forward, back to three sessions, survived for a draw, and head home with at least a bit of credibility at the end of the series. things started well but the day deteriorated fairly dramatically. joe wilson has the story. here's how india might look from the plane home. it's a view england must have longed for — one more day. but with the foretaste of christmas, the collapse came after lunch. cook, the captain, first out.

jadeja the bowler once more. from 103—0, england were 207 all out. ravindra jadeja took seven wickets. when he wasn't bowling, he was fielding. jonny bairstow on one — up, up, and out. jonny bairstow on one... up, up, and out. ravindra jadeja's catch, who else? still, moeen ali made it to 44, then this. six wickets. dawson followed for nought and the england dressing room was speechless. an hour left in the day and england lost their eighth wicket. dressing room, right. it came to ravindra jadeja to take the ninth. jake bowl

batted and ravindra jadeja with another wicket. they had lost ten wickets for just 104 runs. another wicket. they had lost ten wickets forjust 104 runs. to lose another wicket. they had lost ten wicketsforjust104 runs. to lose a series 4—0 is one thing, but to lose like this displays out weak streak for wider than england imagined. alastair cook will have to consider his future, starting on the plane home. a difficult to for england. questions inevitably asked about the england ca ptain‘s future questions inevitably asked about the england captain's future and alastair cook had to face the press... it's the wrong time to make those decisions, because your energy is low, you know, morale is low. and you can make some foolish decisions at the time. so while there's not a test match for seven months, it will seem very foolish to stand here now and make a decision, which either you regret or you don't. so, if there was a test match in three weeks‘ time, then you'd have to think. now there is a bit of space, why not use it? many predicted it would be difficult

but some of the performances have been beyond disappointing from an england side that have all to often seen batting collapses and not bowled with the sort of potency people expected. a big break in test cricket. not playing in that format again untiljuly, meanwhile alastair cook has an awful lot of thinking to do. well, a little earlier i spoke to former england captain michael vaughan and asked him what advice he would pass on to alastair cook now. the fortunate thing for him is that the team did not play a test match untiljuly so there is six months. i think he has two openlyjust be very honest with himself. has he got the passion, energy, to take the team forward ? passion, energy, to take the team forward? after a break of six months. you know, he has to be com pletely months. you know, he has to be completely committed to make sure he ta kes completely committed to make sure he takes them through the seven test matches next summer then onto the ashes series next winter. if there isa ashes series next winter. if there is a little inkling in the back his mind he does not think

he will be able to take them through that period, he has to stand aside 110w that period, he has to stand aside now and ask someone else to take the role for those seven games before the ashes series. i always asked, when i got towards the end of my captaincy days, i just when i got towards the end of my captaincy days, ijust did not enjoy the game, and i can see from alastair cook's says he is not enjoying cricket. he has earned the right to make his own call and also earn the right to spend some time in the side enjoying his cricket. a look at the power of his runs at the top of the order and that is more valuable to the team at this stage rather than his leadership. ijust wa nt to rather than his leadership. ijust want to see in scoring as many runs as possible at the top of the order. if he is captain and has the energy to do so, that will be difficult with what has come in 2016. also i just need his runs at the top of the order going into those ashes in six—months‘ time. order going into those ashes in six-months' time. your instinct on his captaincy. should he go? looking at his face today i would say it as being very close to the time to call it quits from his perspective. he has earned that right, to have a period at home. we will wait and see. he is stubborn, a stubborn chap. he is mentally very tough, has

probably been through this kind of speu probably been through this kind of spell two or three times in his captaincy reign and carried on, but just looking at his face today and his body language in particular over the last three test matches, it looks like you might be thinking about calling it a day. is joe root ready to take over? he is only 25. who knows when you're ready. i age iage and, i age and, you know, iage and, you know, i i age and, you know, i think you can never reallyjudge a player before they have been the captain, because you're not sure how they will act. you don't really know how they will do thejob. he you don't really know how they will do the job. he is a world—class player, the best batsmen in the team. i think he is a very thoughtful player, i think tactically he is very astute. i do think he will make a very good captain for england, and if it is next year i think he will do a tremendousjob, no next year i think he will do a tremendous job, no doubt about it. the twice wimbledon champion petra kvitova has undergone a four—hour potentially career—saving operation after a knife attack in her own home.

the world number 11 says she's ‘fortunate to be alive' after grappling with a burglar at her flat in the czech republic. surgeons operated on her left hand, her racket hand, to repair tendons and nerves. she'll be out of action for at least three months and the likelihood of a full recovery is unknown. celtic have gone 14 points clear at the top of the scottish premiership tonight after a 1—0 win at home to bottom club partick thistle. brendan rodgers' side secured their victory thanks to a 17th minute goal from scott sinclair at a rain—sodden parkead. the champions are now unbeaten in 21 domestic matches. league one side peterborough united will face premier league leaders chelsea in the fa cup third round after beating notts county 2—0. the league two strugglers fell behind with less than two minutes gone at london road when gwion edwards struck. and just five minutes later, paul taylor ensured his first fa cup goal was a memorable one. great strike. jamie vardy will serve a three—match ban after his claim for wrongful dismissal was rejected by the fa. vardy was shown a straight red

for a two—footed tackle during leicester city's match with stoke city on saturday. he'll now miss the premier league champions' games against everton, west ham and middlesbrough. joey barton will re—sign for burnley on a short—term deal until the end of the season. barton was named championship player of the year in his previous stint with the club. he left rangers last month after having his contract terminated. newcastle united midfielder jonjo shelvey has been banned for five games and fined £100,000 after being found guilty of using racially abusive language. shelvey was charged following an incident with wolves midfielder romain saiss in a 2—0 defeat in september. he has also been ordered to attend an fa education course. valtteri bottas' move to mercedes as lewis hamilton's team—mate and felipe massa's return to replace him at williams are close to completion. williams have agreed with massa for him to postpone his retirement for at least another year after mercedes made a pitch for bottas to replace nico rosberg. a deal for bottas to leave williams and join mercedes is also lined up

and is set to be completed in the new year. team sky say they are confident uk anti—doping will find no wrongdoing when it publishes its report into the contents of a package delivered to the team in 2011. the package was handed over during the criterium du dauphine, an event won by sir bradley wiggins. sir dave brailsford told mps yesterday it contained an over—the—counter decongestant, fluimucil. team sky say they're cooperating fully and look forward to the report. 2007 champion raymond van barneveld is into the second round of the pdc world darts championship. the dutch 12th seed lostjust two legs to englishman robbie green — averaging nearly 100 in the process. he'll play alan norris in round 2.