Captaincy saves underperformer Cook from getting the axe

Alastair Cook, who has scored just 246 runs in 10 innings during the Ashes, and was dismissed for four as England were beaten by Australia in the first of five one-day internationals, has been able to retain his place in the squad just because of captaincy, coach Ashley Giles put the entire England team on notice.

Pacer Finn was sent home from England's tour of Australia on Wednesday.

Explaining the decision to send 24-year-old Finn home, England one-day coach Ashley Giles said the player was not selectable at the moment and leaving was for his own good.

Cook was lucky not to be sent back after poor show as a batsman.

Giles said he can't remove everyone from the team, and added that Cook is leading the side as well which puts extra pressure on him.

He further said that it is his job to take some pressure from Cook, News.com.au reported.

Australia's bowlers are ready to exploit Cook again after the captain's failures in the opening one-dayer at the MCG and Tuesday's tour match against the Prime Minister's XI.

One of Giles' toughest jobs will be to repair the confidence of his key players before the Twenty20 World Cup in March and next year's limited-overs ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Out of form Finn urged to fall back in love with bowling

Meanwhile, Finn, who was the only member of England's 17-man Test squad not to feature during the 5-0 Ashes whitewash, has been urged by Middlesex chief Angus Fraser to fall back in love with bowling.

Finn was sent home from England's tour of Australia on Wednesday. He has not played Test cricket since appearing in the first match of the home series against Australia at Trent Bridge in July.

The 24-year-old has suffered such a decline in form that he has left Australia with four out of the five one-day internationals still to play.

Finn last played in a tour game against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in Alice Springs in November when he returned figures of no wickets for 61 runs, Sport24 reported.

Explaining the decision to send 24-year-old Finn home, England one-day coach Ashley Giles said the player was not selectable at the moment and leaving was for his own good.

Fraser said he had been in communication with Steven and with Giles and concluded that this is the best way forward.

He further said it's hugely frustrating for Steven because he wanted to play a major part in Australia but sometimes the harder you try the worse it gets.

Fraser said the best thing Finn could do in the immediate term was to take a break from cricket.

Finn has taken 90 wickets in 23 Tests, as well as appearing in 39 ODIs, was considered to be one of England's leading pacers.

England had hoped that the 6ft 7in paceman would play a significant role in Australia.