become "drained" as england's test captain — that's according to england's director of cricket andrew strausstepped down today after leading his country in a record 59 matches. a warning — there's some flash photography coming up injoe wilson's report. 2012 and england's new cricket captain alastair cook posed for cameras like a visit to the dentist — he would rather not, but he knew he had to, so smile. alastair cook captained his way, old —fashioned, reasonable, and yes, even inspirational. on foreign soil or at home, he withstood more test matches than any other england captain. but it takes its toll. the demands get to every skipper eventually. wi but i know it's the correct decision for me, and the right time for the team." alastair cook's record makes him one of britain's outstanding sportsman in an era where live cricket was only available on pay tv in the uk. england won just over 40% of the test matches he captained, not the best record, but better than most of his predecessors. as a batsman, no—one in britain has played more test matches oi’ made as many runs. cook recently overtook

england director of cricket andrew strauss said alastair cook had become "drained" as test captain. record 59 matches in charge. he's england's highest run—scorer in test cricket, while his 1a0 test appearances and 30 centuries are also national records. my my conversations with him injanuary became pretty clear that, you know, he felt that the huge amount of energy and drive and determination was needed to take the england test tea m forward was needed to take the england test team forward over the next 12 months 01’ so team forward over the next 12 months or so heading to the ashes, and deep down he was getting drained piety, i suppose, relentlessness of being captain. you are the only one who knows how much gas is left in the tank, you only know the demands as captain, how much that's taking out of you, and alistair was honest about that and he feels it's time for some new blood, some new impetus, some fresh thinking. he's had some difficult to overcome, both personally and collectively, over five years. he stuck with that unbelievably. certainly, at times, you know, a letterman

alistair cook took over the captaincy from andrew strauss, and today he said that being captain of englandmy conversation with him injanuary, it became clear that he felt a huge amount of energy and drive and determination was needed to take the england test team forward over the next 12 months or so heading to the ashes and deep down he was getting drained by the, i suppose, the relentlessness of being england captain. you are the only person who knows how much gas you have left in the tank. all the demands of being england captain, how much that is taking from you and alastair cook was honest about that and feels it is time for some new blood and fresh thinking. he had some difficulties to ove rco m e thinking. he had some difficulties to overcome both personally and collectively over the five years. he has dealt with that unbelievably well and at times a lesser man would not have been able to deal with those. the world of rugby is paying tribute to the former south africa scrum half joost van der westhuizen, who has died at the age of a5, after a long running battle with motor neurone d

england's director of cricket, andrew strauss has denied that joe root is the only candidate for thejob through. he isa there is a process to go through. he is a very prominent cricketer and influential person in the dressing room, so there is no doubt he would be short listed candidate, but i don't want to rule anyone out at this stage. iaaf president lord coe insists he did not mislead an mps' inquiry over what he knew about the state—sponsored doping program in russia. emails emerged that appeared to show he was aware of allegations of blackmail and failed drugs tests involving russian athletes months before they became public. he denies the allegations and has been speaking to our sports news correspondent richard conway. ididn't i didn't mislead them, i did not mislead any committee. i have to run a committee over 14 countries, i have given the committee each piece of information they have asked of me. i appeared of information they have asked of me. iappeared in of information they have asked of me. i appeared in front of them for over three hours not that long ago, and this is a

and in sportsday on bbc news, director of cricket andrew strauss says alastair cook stepped down as englandin because he was drained and lacked the energy and drive to continue. good evening. we start tonight with new evidence of the immense pressure on parts of the nhs in england, with patient numbers considered unsafe in the majority of hospital trusts this winter. over the past week bbc news has been given exclusive access to the royal blackburn hospital. its accident and emergency department receives more ambulances than any other in the north—west of england. in the first of two extended reports our special correspondent ed thomas has been speaking to staff and patients. inside the royal blackburn hospital. the bbc was given unrestricted access to witness the pressures facing the nhs. they've had patients here for six, eight hours. can't find a bed for them. queueing for five hours in the corridor. it is not what we expect from a country like ours, really, is it? we need to get some blood from you. what's it like to be here when it's busy? dangerous. yeah, it's frightening. sunday nigh

director of cricket, andrew strauss, says alastair cook has stepped down as england captain because theyenergy and drive to continue. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. tonight we bring you a special report that highlights the unprecedented pressures facing nurses and doctors in the nhs. over the past week bbc news has been given exclusive access to the royal blackburn hospital — which was once in special measures but is now rated good. its a&e department receives more ambulances than any other in the north west of england. in the first of two reports, our special correspondent ed thomas has been speaking to staff and the patients they treat. there are distressing images in what comes next. inside the royal blackburn hospital. the bbc was given unrestricted access to witness the pressures facing the nhs. they've had patients here for six, eight hours. can't find a bed for them. queueing for five hours in the corridor. it is not what we expect from a country like ours, really, is it? we need to get some blood from you. what's it like to be here when it's busy? dangerous. yea

joe root, ben stokes and stuart broad have met with director of cricket andrew strauss to discuss the is the favourite to take over. a new captain will be appointed before england's limited—overs tour of the caribbean in march. broad has previously captained the twenty20 side and stokes was vice—captain in recent short—form matches. captain virat kohli became the first batsman to score double centuries in four consecutive series, as india declared on a huge 687 for six against bangladesh. the 28—year—old skipper went past legends including australia's donald bradman and his compatriot rahul dravid, who both compiled double tons in three consecutive series. it wasn't the highest scoring start to the new super league season, but st helens fans won't care, as they beat their old rivals leeds rhinos. the game was won by a moment of class, as st helens, slid across the field, before unpicking the door and finding a gap with frenchman theo farge, squeezing across the line, to make it 6—4. there are two more games tonight, including newly promoted leigh centurians at castleford there's anoth

he says he feels privileged and excited, and andrew strauss, a former captain, says joe root andrew strausse right man to beat england's test captain, following conversations with the tea m following conversations with the team at the end of the week the offer was put to go and he accepted it immediately. he points out his intelligence and ability to well that will serve him well, and he is to scribe as being universally respected why his team—mates and he will need many of his team—mates, like alastair cook, stuart broad and james anderson, to support him. thank you, david. the headlines on bbc newsroom live: widespread drug abuse and security failings are revealed in one of the country's biggest prisons by a bbc undercover investigation. pensioners are an average of £20 a week better off than working age people, a new report says. tesco promises immediate action after a bbc investigation finds two thirds of its deals were out of date and didn't work at the checkout. as you've been hearing, joe root is confirmed as the new english cricket test captain. he succeeds alan cooke, who resigned

joe root, ben stokes and stuart broad have met with director of cricket andrew strauss to discuss theined england in the one day series in bangladesh. root, who was vice—captain to previous skipper alastair cook, is the favourite to take over. a new captain will be appointed before england's limited—overs tour of the caribbean in march. broad has previously captained the twenty20 side and stokes was vice—captain in recent short—form matches. and great britain will face second seeds croatia in the fed cup promotion play—off tomorrow. their place was sealed after lativa beat portugal in britain's group which meant gb will top group c having won all of three ties under new captain anne keothavong 3—0. turkey were the latest team to be defeated with laura robson and jocelyn rae rounding off the whitewash in the doubles after singles victories for heather watson and johanna konta. right now i guess just really happy to come through that. it wasn't easy. she definitely played herself into the match. to come through that and to give us the opportunity to go into the play—off tomorrow, i am v

, nasser hussain, michael atherton, you are quite drained, as andrew strauss said about alastair cookutiny. and, will, having missed rio 2016, russian athletes will now not be allowed to compete under their flag at the world athletics championships in london later this year. but, will, is there a chance that some of those athletes will be able to take part? this is an extended ban for russia's athletes, from missing the olympics. if the athletes can prove that they have gone through all of the portfolios and they are clean, they will be able to compete as a neutral athlete at the world athletics championships in london in august. so far 35 russians have applied to compete as neutrals. the iaaf have set up an independent task force. russia still are not ready to go through the protocol, it has been recommended. lord coe says there are concerns about the doping procedures. we are not going to change the culture of something that has been prominent for 40 or 50 years. and notjust simply prominent for 40 or 50 years. and not just simply in prominent for 40 or 50 years. and notjust simply

in sport, england director of cricket andrew strauss and his team have spoken tojoe root, ben stokes,ngland test captaincy. route is the favourite to replace alistair cook, who stood down this week. virat kohli has become the first batsman to score a double century in four consecutive test series. he made 204 in india's huge total of 687six, declared on the first day of the test against bangladesh. and england head coach eddiejones has surprised his wales counterpart, deciding he wants the roof open when the two sides meet in the six nations tomorrow. he made the decisionjust nations tomorrow. he made the decision just before the 48—hour deadline passed. i will be back with more on those just after half past. a man and a woman have died in a house fire in bridlington in greater manchester. greater manchester police said a man and four children aged between ten and 17 were taken to hospital. the cause of the fire is unknown. none of the royal navy's seven attack submarines are currently on operations, the bbc understands. 0nly only one of the seven is currently at sea conducting trials

england‘s director of cricket andrew strauss has denied that joe root is the only candidate for thejobsly, a phenomenal cricketer and an influential person in the dress room so there is reason why he wouldn‘t be a strong candidate that i don‘t want to rule anyone out at this stage. athletics‘ world governing body, the iaaf, has said that russia will not be able to compete at this year‘s world championships in london. they‘ve been serving a suspension after a ‘state sponsored‘ doping programme was uncovered. the country‘s track and field athletes were banned from last year‘s olympics, and there were no russian paralympians in rio either. when not going to change the culture of something that has been prominent for 40 or 50 years and actually not just simply in russia. we want to see some sign that there is a cultural shift. we are not going to resubmit the newly constructed a russian federation yet and the clear implication is they would appear, if they do, as mutual athletes. —— neutral. tributes have been coming in for the former south africa scrum half joost van der westhiezen, who‘s