Alastair Cook acknowledges that England’s Champions Trophy final defeat to India will take time to get over yet takes solace in the fact another significant challenge is quickly on the horizon.
Cook’s men suffered a narrow loss against India yesterday to ensure England’s long wait for a global 50-over title goes on.
However, switching focus should not prove too difficult given the small matter of an Investec Ashes series is merely a couple of weeks away.
“Clearly it’s going to take a couple of days,” said Cook in the aftermath of England’s loss in a game reduced to 20-overs-per-side due to rain.
“I think all the guys have got a few days off now and we have to use that. It’s been a pretty hectic start to the summer and it’s only going to get busier and busier.
“So we have to recharge our batteries well. It’s always a different feeling in different kits and clearly the Ashes is here.”
England’s preparations for the Ashes begin in earnest with a four-day warm-up encounter against Cook’s county side, Essex.
The captain added: “We’re going to have to prepare ourselves in that Essex game to make sure we hit the ground running at Trent Bridge (in the first Test).”
Getting back into whites will allow Cook a break from 50-over worries but, despite the Champions Trophy ending in eventual disappointment, he still takes great heart from England’s campaign.
With the World Cup taking place in Australia just over 18 months from now, he believes England are on an upward curve.
“I think the majority of the squad will be pretty similar (in the World Cup),” admitted Cook. “You can’t look into the future too much and I’m sure there are players not in this team thinking I want to get into the squad.
“That’s great for competition, but I would say the majority of this team will be in 2015.”