England captain Alastair Cook calls for match-fixers to be banned for life with Mohammad Amir on verge of return

Opener happy to face Pakistan bowler later in the summer but thinks punishment should be more severe

Alastair Cook has announced his team a day earlier than normal once again (AP)

Alastair Cook believes cricketers who are found guilty of match- or spot-fixing should be banned for life. Mohammad Amir, who served a five-year ban for bowling deliberate no balls against England in 2010, looks set to return to the scene of his crime when Pakistan at Lord’s in the first Test of their forthcoming series.

Cook, who has a Test against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday at Lord’s to focus on before Pakistan turn up, has no issues with the prospect of playing against Amir but feels the punishments for such misdemeanours should be more severe.

“I think if you get caught match-fixing you should be banned for life,” Cook said. “The punishment should be that hard because we have to protect the integrity. That’s not to say Amir shouldn't come back because the rules were different then. From my point of view the punishment should be so harsh it deters people from doing it.

“It is ironic that his first Test will be back here at Lord’s,” Cook added. “He’s served his time. He was punished for what he did and rightly so because we have to protect the integrity of the game. I have no problems with playing against him.”

Cook has once more demonstrated the confidence running through the England camp by naming his starting XI a day before the Test with England unchanged from the team that beat Sri Lanka at Durham with Steven Finn and Nick Compton the two players who will be most relieved to hang on to their places.

“We want people to feel as comfortable as they can,” Cook said. “You’ll never be completely comfortable when you are on the periphery of cementing your place but that’s international cricket. You don't want people always looking over their shoulder, so when they get a chance, they get a good run.

Compton will bat at No 3 again despite only making nine runs in the first innings at Durham. He did make 22 unbeaten in the second knock as England chased down their minimal victory target but has been in scratchy form this summer.

If you get caught match-fixing you should be banned for life. The punishment should be that hard because we have to protect the integrity

&#13; <p>Alastair Cook airs his views on corruption in cricket</p>&#13;

“He is still playing for his place but he has got the class to get the big score. He understands it, he’s very relaxed around the camp. When he bats he’s intense but that’s how he got his runs. The big danger is to feel as if you have to change your game.”

Finn admitted during the last Test when he took just the one wicket that he was not at his best but the Middlesex paceman has been given another opportunity such is the luxury afforded by England winning the first two Tests comfortably.

“When he’s absolutely on song he is up there as one of our three best seamers in the country,” Cook said. “Last summer against Australia he bowled fantastically well, this winter when he played he was outstanding. It’s not always perfect, James Anderson struggled in South Africa for rhythm - then he comes back and is bowing as well as he ever has done. You don't get 11 guys at top of their games all the time.

“Steven has the ability to take wickets, when he clicks he is very hard to face. I’ve seen glimpses in the nets - just facing him now. I’ve got a great bruise on my leg. He is massive part of the England squad. He’s not quite as his best, but I’m a big fan - he takes wickets.”

England will be keen to see of Sri Lanka 3-0 as they have a poor record in dead rubbers over recent years when they have already wrapped up the series. There are worse problems to have but Cook is keen for England to be ruthless.

“Who knows what the wicket will bring,” Cook said. “But if we want to be the best team in the world, these are the types of games we need to play better in.”