Alastair Cook: England places available

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Cook's men take on Sri Lanka in a two-match series in June as they look to get back to winning ways following a disastrous tour of Australia.

England surrendered the Ashes in a 5-0 whitewash, and followed that up by losing both the one-day international and Twenty20 series to their great rivals.

Stuart Broad captained England's one-day side to a ODI series win over West Indies in March, although they lost the subsequent T20 series before being eliminated in the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

However, the start of the County Championship season has brought encouraging signs for present and prospective England players.

Indeed, Cook and Ian Bell have both registered centuries for Middlesex and Warwickshire respectively, while Test hopeful Sam Robson also scored a hundred batting alongside Cook against Nottinghamshire.

And Cook hinted that players such as Robson may be able to force their way into the team to face Sri Lanka.

"It's an exciting time in English cricket in that, for the first time in a long time, there's quite a few places up for grabs," Cook told BBC Essex.

"That happens when you lose games of cricket and we lost five pretty heavily.

"Everyone knows there are places up for grabs and good performances in the County Championship over the next few months will push peoples' claims. I don't think you rule anyone out.

"I've hit the ball quite nicely myself over the last few weeks or so. It's nice to go on and make a sizeable contribution."

England's two tests against Sri Lanka take place at Lord's (12-16 June) and Headingley (20-24 June).

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