England are on the brink of a humiliating series whitewash after Australia cruised to an eight-wicket victory in the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne on Sunday with a day to spare.
Somehow the demoralised tourists, who gave up the Ashes in 14 playing days, have to find a way to stop the Australian juggernaut in this week's final Sydney Test from repeating the 5-0 rout of the 2006-07 series Down Under.
It has been a dramatic turnaround from England's last tour in Australia in 2010-11 when Cook amassed 766 runs at 127.66. Three years later he has scored 232 runs in eight innings at 29.00.
But Cook insists he wants to continue as captain, leaving the big call on his post-Ashes future to the England selectors.
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"I'm totally responsible as captain for the team and if, at the end of the series, the selectors decide I'm not the best man for the job, then so be it," Cook told reporters after England's dispiriting loss.
"I know that it starts with a lot of hard work and it starts with a performance or two that we jump on the back of.
"I'm 100 percent wanting to carry on. If someone makes that decision, and says 'We think there's a better man' or 'You're not good enough to do it', then I have to take that on the chin because as a captain, you're responsible for the team.