Cook stood down for rest of season

Despite struggling for form this season, Alastair Cook has been stood down for the remainder of the season by the ECB.

Cook has only made four half-centuries in international cricket in 2014 but with England's packed schedule from November onwards in mind, the England management prescribed rest for Cook.

He will therefore not take part in Essex's three remaining County Championship matches this season but all other members of the England squad have been cleared to take part in the climax to the season.

Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire are involved in a push for the Championship title and all three will have their England players available for at least one of their final matches.

Gary Ballance and Joe Root are available for Yorkshire, who travel to Trent Bridge next week for a crucial fixture. Notts have Alex Hales, James Taylor and Harry Gurney free to play.

Warwickshire have also reached the Royal London Cup final on September 20 and Ian Bell has been given permission to play, as has Chris Woakes who is also free to play in Warwickshire's penultimate Championship match against Northamptonshire.

But Woakes will miss the final round as the England management seek to give their bowlers a full six-week rest ahead of the tour to Sri Lanka.

As such, James Anderson is free to play for Lancashire against Sussex only, starting on Tuesday; Steven Finn's final county outing will also be next week and Chris Jordan will miss Sussex's final Championship match with Northants.