England Test team captain Alastair Cook has lashed out at the selectors for dropping him as one-day skipper in the build-up to the World Cup after the squad was knocked out of the tournament in the group stages.

Cook claimed that England's dismal performance at the tournament proved the decision to get rid of him was wrong. He said that the selectors made that decision because they thought it was the best for English cricket.

The Test skipper said that hindsight has probably proved them wrong, but added that now it's easy to say that, the BBC reported.

Cook was appointed one-day captain in 2011 and was initially successful, taking England to the top of the world rankings and the final of the Champions Trophy in 2013. However, his form slumped over the next 12 months and he was removed as one-day captain in December, two months before the World Cup, and replaced by fellow batsman Eoin Morgan.

Cook said that he believes one saw in Australia at the World Cup the dangers of making such a big decision so close to the tournament, adding that he doesn't know what's happened on that tour, but insisted that it did look like the lads were shell shocked from the first two games and claimed that that's when one needs real leadership to help steer them through that.

The skipper said that he would have loved to have had the opportunity that was taken away from him.

Cook did not preside over a one-day series victory in 2014 and averaged only 27.52 in his last 20 limited overs games.

Cook acknowledged that given his poor form he couldn't complain about losing the one-day captaincy, but said that the ECB's decision and the subsequent woeful World Cup campaign has damaged confidence.

Cook claimed that they have a repairing job to do, and the only way of doing that is by playing some good cricket and to start winning.