Cook wants whitewash despite talk of resting star names

Alastair Cook spoke, after his team’s eight-wicket win at Chester-le-Street on Saturday established an unassailable 3-0 lead, of the cachet of a clean sweep against the old enemy – and also the possibility of once again employing the rotation policy.

England’s selectors first caused a stir when James Anderson was prescribed a break for the final npower Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston, a fixture his pace colleague Stuart Broad also eventually sat out.

Then came a rest for the last one-day international against the West Indies at Headingley, a match which was washed out in any case, for home favourite Tim Bresnan, Broad and Graeme Swann.

Most recently, off-spinner Swann did not travel up to Durham as England took a safety-first approach with his sore bowling elbow.

That was the first instance of a key player being rested before a series was won. As yet, no batsman has been given a break either.

Cook, meanwhile, can reflect on an impressive ninth successive ODI victory – and England’s seventh consecutive home series win in 50-over cricket – but he knows the job is not yet complete.

“Four-nil looks a lot better than 3-1,” he said, looking forward to tomorrow’s day-night fixture in Manchester.

“They will be desperate not to let that happen, but we have got to be just as hungry as we have been in these games.