Cook nearly quit captaincy

London - England skipper Alastair Cook has confessed to nearly resigning as captain several times in the past.

Cook has led England to the Ashes twice, and amassed over 10 000 Test runs, but admitted in a recent interview to having doubts about the job on more than one occasion.

The Essex man told The Sun: "I've lived on the edge for quite a number of years as captain in terms of wanting to jack it in and questions about the job.

"There were times when I thought I'd go, for sure.

"I spoke to my wife, Alice about packing it in. I'd rather not say exactly when but I've got them written down."

The left-hander concedes that he was on the brink of quitting ahead of the Ashes in 2015, but the 3-2 series win encouraged him to stay on, Cook said: "I don't like talking about it because you end up doubting yourself. But, yes, I was very close to going at the end of the Ashes last year.

"But we won two Tests in 10 days at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge and I woke up the next day and thought 'This side has so much potential and I still want to be part of it'."

Cook has not set a timeline for stepping down but said: "If I feel the team is getting a bit stale, bored with me and the next generation is pushing on, then it will be time to go."