LONDON: England skipper Alastair Cook has said there are Test places to be won in the home team to face Sri Lanka in the two-match series in June.

Cook, 29, averaged 24.60 during the 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia over the winter, but scored a century for Essex in the English County Championship fixture against Derbyshire on Monday.

Ian Bell and Sam Robson also made tons for their counties this week.

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

Cook managed a second-innings total of 181 in Essex’s County Championship Division Two game, hitting his first century since making 154 for England against Australia ‘A’ last November.

England Lions batsman Robson enhanced his claims for an opening position alongside Cook with a knock of 163 for Middlesex against Nottinghamshire.

“Everyone knows there are places up for grabs and good performances in the County Championship over the next few months will push peoples’ claims,” said Cook. “I don’t think you rule anyone out.”—Agencies