Southampton, Sep 7 (IANS) England's ODI skipper Alastair Cook, who scored a match winning unbeaten 80 against India in the second ODI, considered dropping himself from the match after the rain shortened it to 23 overs per side.

Cook shared a crucial opening stand of 67 in under seven overs with Craig Kieswetter, and maintained the tempo on a batting surface under lights.

Cook has not played for England in the shortest format for almost two years and said he contemplated stepping aside.

"That was mentioned in our dressing room," Cook said after England defeated India by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the NatWest Series.

"We talked about it. But when we're in a one-day competition you're not allowed to bring new players in for Twenty20. You have to adapt, so I captained."

England dropped Jonathan Trott and with injured Eoin Morgan out of the side, the team rose to the challenge of chasing India's 187 for eight.

"It was a fantastic wicket. We decided to bowl because it was cloudy, there was rain around and the wicket had been under covers. But after the first couple of overs it was clear that it wasn't doing very much," Cook said.

"It was a bit frantic (in the field), but we restricted them to a total we could get. It was a decent score, but we thought it was a par score if we played well," Cook said.

"Craig played brilliantly at the top of the order and left us just having to milk it to get there. That was the best wicket I've batted on for a long time."

"The bowlers said after a couple of overs that it wasn't doing anything, and it was skidding onto the bat quite nicely under the lights."