Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

There have been times when we have agreed, others when we have disagreed and when I have criticised him.   

The task of being honest about a player, but fair enough that they will still speak when you put a microphone under their nose, is a tightrope a sports journalist must walk.

We have also had our moments of fun.

Just on this last tour of India, I was cajoled into having a pedicure by an Indian barber. Who should walk in, but Essex County and England cricketer Cook, complete with camera. He took great delight in showing the photo to everyone he could find, as well as making sure he got it out to the world. I let him enjoy that one.

And so he departs. For Cook, the nature of the end of his tenure as captain very much reflects the type of man he is.  

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Two men have denied murdering a 58-year-old father of two daughters in Stevenage.

Peter Shickle (below) was found dead at his home on Silam Road on Sunday, 6 November, Luton Crown Court was told.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Graham King and John Jamieson, both 35 and from Stevenage, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Shickle, via video link from Peterborough Prison.

Mr King, from Harrow Court, and Mr Jamieson, from Wigram Way, were remanded in custody by Judge Richard Foster. 

The trial date has been set for 24 April.

There is praise for cricketer Alastair Cook, who has resigned as England Test Captain, from his Essex club:

BBC Sport

Milton Keynes-based Badminton England will today appeal against the decision to remove funding for the sport.

Last year's move by UK Sport came despite badminton exceeding its performance target at the Rio Olympics, where Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis won bronze medals.  

Image source, Getty Images

The sports governing body will put forward its case that it needs the money for elite athletes and youngsters. It previously said the move could end the careers of its Olympic medallists.

Badminton was the biggest loser of seven sports, with UK Sport also stopping funding archery, fencing, wheelchair rugby and weightlifting for the Tokyo 2020 cycle.

A decision will be made by the end of the month, with those still unhappy with any verdict able to make a formal appeal to the arbitration service Sport Resolutions UK.

BBC Sport

Former England bowler Matthew Hoggard has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 live after Essex county cricketer Alastair Cook's resignation as England Test captain.

Image source, Getty Images

“It’s a hard decision I’m sure for Alastair Cook," he said.

“He will be remembered as the most successful captain, and not only as a great leader but also as a genuinely nice bloke. Everybody who has played with him and under him won’t have a bad word against him.

“We’ve seen Alastair Cook evolve as a captain. In the beginning there were questions marks over how he placed his field and how he went about his business but we’ve seen him evolve into a better captain. He will have regrets but everybody does.

“Whatever Alastair Cook decided would have been the right decision. He has the backing of everyone who played under him and going forward he would have had the backing of the team."

BBC Sport

Essex county cricketer Alastair Cook has resigned as England Test captain.

Image source, Getty Images

Former cricket captain at Bedford School, Cook, 32, led his country in a record 59 Tests and skippered them to Ashes victories in 2013 and 2015.

However, during the 4-0 Test series defeat in India he admitted to having "questions" over his role, and has ended a reign that began in 2012.

"Stepping down has been an incredibly hard decision but I know this is the correct decision for me and at the right time for the team," said Cook.

"Playing for England really is a privilege and I hope to carry on as a Test player, making a full contribution and helping the next England captain and the team however I can."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The slip road on the A404 where human remains were found over the weekend has reopened after a police investigation.

Image source, Google

They were found by a police officer during a routine patrol near the Handycross roundabout at High Wycombe on Saturday.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out later this week. 

Thames Valley Police said the investigation was at a very early stage and the death was being treated as "unexplained". 

Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex

New figures show every main hospital in Essex was almost full in December and January and the bed occupancy rate was at an unsafe level, according to NHS guidelines.

Image source, Google

The guidelines say hospitals can't operate safely if more than 85% of beds are full.   

The BBC has seen figures for the number of beds available to patients between 1 December and 22 January and at Harlow's Princess Alexandra Hospital (pictured), 99.7% of beds were occupied over the winter period.

Southend had the lowest occupancy level at 94.5%, but this is still well above the recommended safe operating level.

It seems Essex isn't alone in this - only 15 hospitals in England were below the safe limit this winter.

NHS England said: "It's not uncommon for there to be pressures across the NHS at this time of year, especially as we're facing very high levels of demand.

"The NHS takes steps each winter to maximise bed availability, and hospitals are rightly prioritising emergency and urgent patients at every opportunity."

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

It's a rather grey start for many of us this morning, although there are clearer skies out towards the west where we will have a bit of sunshine. 

There's a bit of mist and fog out there as well - that will gradually lift as the cloud moves away.

We may get a spot of rain out towards the east coast but for most places there'll be sunshine throughout the afternoon and a top temperature of 7C (45F).

Get my full BBC East regional forecast here:

For more detail where you are, visit BBC Weather.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to Monday's live page for the three counties, where we'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather until 18:00. 

These are some of the stories we'll be looking at today...

Human remains found on the A404 slip road at High Wycombe on Saturday are described by police as "unexplained". 

Milton Keynes-based Badminton England will today appeal against a decision to remove funding for the sport.

Thames Water faces its "biggest ever fine" over millions of gallons of untreated sewage pumped into waterways. 

Meanwhile, you can contact us at any time via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.  

Relive text commentary from the Premiership as 14-man Exeter Chiefs share 10 tries to draw with leaders Wasps.

The death is currently being treated as "unexplained" by Thames Valley Police.

Gianfranco Zola's first win at Birmingham and Yeovil's personal touch are among five EFL stories you may have missed.

Watford boss Walter Mazzarri says he is "angry" that his side did not win by more goals following their 2-1 victory against Burnley.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche asks why Watford scorer M'Baye Niang was not shown a second yellow card for celebrating in the crowd.

Scott Kashket scores his 15th goal of the season as Wycombe overcome Portsmouth to go sixth in the League Two table.

There's quite a big football game this weekend on the other side of the pond in the American version of the game.

But how would a former NFL star get on with the FA People's Cup keepy-uppy challenge?

Entries to the 2017 FA People's Cup are now open (but there's not that long left) and you can find out how to get involved here.

M'Baye Niang scores one goal and makes another on his Watford home debut as 10-man Burnley's miserable away record continues.

High-flying Bolton are held to a draw by MK Dons as their winless run extends to four games in League One.

Grimsby keeper James McKeown saves a stoppage-time penalty to deny Luton an away victory in their League Two game.