Cook delighted to see momentum keep rolling on

England ODI skipper Alastair Cook was an understandably happy man after seeing his team gain a series-clinching win over Australia at Durham on Saturday.

Besides reeling off nine successive ODI victories - a national record - the hosts can now claim seven consecutive home ODI series wins.

Although the latest win looked simple enough - by eight wickets - the England captain felt it needed another top-class performance to achieve their success.

"The margin of victory looks quite comfortable today and in the other games," Cook said. "But we have had to fight really hard.

"We had the best of the conditions today, but you have still got to put in a really good performance. The way the lads, Jimmy (Anderson) and Finny (Steven Finn) especially, set the tone made it extremely difficult for Australia.

"We are heading in the right direction and the lads put in a really solid performance. We have never been great at putting in back-to-back performances in one-day internationals, but have won nine in a row now."

While England's opening bowlers, Finn (4-37) and Anderson (2-34) stood out with the ball, Cook was also quick to lavish praise on Ian Bell, who scored 69 in conditions that were tough for batting all day.

"He (Bell) is class," said the England skipper. "He is showing it at the top and is hard to bowl at because he can score at 360 degrees.

"We are getting off to good starts, which makes it easier for our lower order. Belly is certainly not underappreciated in our dressing room. He has been outstanding over the last couple of years.

"He works so hard and is always the first one in the nets and is getting the just rewards for that."

England get the chance to wrap up the series in style when the sides meet one final time at Old Trafford on Tuesday.