England Diary: 'Cook contemplated quitting captaincy last month'

Alastair Cook has succeeded in pulling England out of Ashes defeat depression with two massive victories over India but the England captain was mulling resignation during the Sri Lanka series, it has been revealed.

England team's managing director Paul Downton says Cook contemplated resigning from the post last month during the second Test against Sri Lanka when his tactical decisions backfired and hurt the side badly.

The incident relates to fourth day of the Headingley Test when Cook's tactics allowed tail-ender Rangana Herath and Angelo Mathews to build a huge partnership and he himself go out cheaply later.

"He was very low that night and he went to his hotel room wondering, 'Do I really need this?’ But he woke up the next morning and said 'I am in'," Downton said in an interview with BBC's ‘Test Match Special’.

"That was all I wanted to hear, that he was committed to this job."

After England's defeat against India at the Lord's Test, a few experts had called for Cook's resignation and some advised that he should take a break but the England skipper is now back among runs and his side is on the verge of series-win over India.

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England wicketkeeper Matt Prior will undergo Achilles surgery nest month and anticipates a four-month recovery period, the 32-year-old said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo on Friday.

Prior stood down from the England team after the second Test match against India at Lord's last month in an attempt to regain fitness and form.

"It was pretty bad, to be honest," Prior said.

"It was a massive decision, but I went as long as I could.

"I still hurt. I've seen the specialist and surgeons and I'm having an operation on September 4.

"It's not the end, but there is a long road back and it starts from September 4 with four months of rehab to get as fit as I possibly can.

"It's been shown by specialists that I couldn't physically have gone on any longer. So it's now time to get it right, get fit again and come back stronger."

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who has averaged 40.18 runs in 79 Test matches since his debut against West Indies in 2007, was replaced behind the stumps by Jos Buttler.

The 23-year-old Buttler has thrived, scoring half-centuries in each of his two Test innings.

"I think he's done brilliantly," Prior added. "The one thing he has done that is massive for keepers is scoring runs.

"When you're scoring runs it takes pressure off your wicketkeeping. Jos has done brilliantly and good luck to him."