Alastair Cook: Captain expected to stay for World Cup - Paul Downton

England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton says he would be surprised if Alastair Cook is not captain at the World Cup.

Cook averages of 24.95 in his last 21 one-day internationals, during which time England have won eight matches and suffered four series defeats.

"He's horribly out of form at the moment but, as we all know with form, that can turn," Downton told BBC Sport.

"I would be extremely surprised if he wasn't the captain at the World Cup."

After a 90-run defeat in the sixth ODI in Sri Lanka condemned England to a 4-2 series defeat, coach Peter Moores said there is no guarantee that Cook would remain one-day captain and that his position will be reviewed after the tour.

Downton confirmed that a similar discussion was held following the 3-1 home series defeat by India at the end of the English summer.

"The selectors spent a week in September after the India series just really analysing and discussing," said Downton.

"[National selector] James Whitaker went to see Alastair at his home just to talk through from his point of view how he was mentally."

Pressure on Cook's place as leader of the one-day side comes after there were repeated calls for him to stand down as Test captain in the wake of a series defeat by Sri Lanka, a loss in the second Test against India and his own poor form.

But Cook turned it round with two half-centuries in the third Test against India, with England going on to win the series 3-1.