ALASTAIR Cook is thankful to his England employers for their unqualified backing of him as World Cup captain.

Essex star Cook believes the remarks of national selector James Whitaker, on naming England's squad two months ago to take on Sri Lanka in seven one-day internationals, will help him to play 'without fear' - as prescribed.

England's management figures have spoken in the past week of the importance of that mentality, as their team embark on an undiluted winter of 50-over cricket en route to the World Cup early next year.

It was Whitaker who spelled out, after Cook had come in for much criticism of his ODI batting from various pundits at the end of last summer, that he is a "unique person and leader" who will unequivocally be in charge in Australia and New Zealand as well as Sri Lanka.

On the eve of his first assignment, the opening fixture at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium in a seven-match series, Cook made it clear he is grateful for Whitaker's remarks.

Asked if they were helpful to him, he said: "Yes. It stops a lot of speculation.

"We can go on now and concentrate on trying to improve ourselves as a one-day side.

"There's always pressure to perform when you're playing for England, whether you're captain or (just) player.

"But in one-day cricket, you've got to try to take as much pressure off yourself as possible if you can - because you need to take those risks at the right time."

It is set to be an occupational hazard for England to dodge the rainy season here, and Cook already appears resigned to shortened matches - and the need to modify personnel and tactics accordingly with Moeen Ali pencilled in to open with him on Wednesday.

But Cook added: "We can't control the weather, and I'm not sure we're going to be able to control it over the next couple of weeks.

"With the threat of shortened games, things might change on the day.

"We're going to have to be flexible on that."

There was another curveball for England when, in practice after their second warm-up match was washed out on Sunday, linchpin pace bowler Steven Finn hurt his groin.

Finn's pain has eased over the past two days, and he was able to bowl at nets on Tuesday evening.

But England will make a late decision on his fitness, and may have to field an especially inexperienced pace attack - with James Anderson and Stuart Broad already missing this tour because of knee injuries.

Cook is nonetheless broadly optimistic.

He said: "I think we've made some really good progress in this week-and-a-half.

"We've talked a good game so far in meetings and nets, and I could not ask the lads for any more effort.

"But the crux of the matter is how we pull up tomorrow, and how we play."