Alastair Cook will lead England into their forthcoming three-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates hoping his young side can take another step forward.
The 30-year-old is England's leading Test run-scorer and answered prolonged questions over his captaincy by guiding his side to a 3-2 victory over Australia during the summer to reclaim the Ashes.
Cook will now look to build on that success with victory over Pakistan, who have not played a Test series on home soil since 2009.
They are unbeaten in the UAE and beat England 3-0 in 2012, but Cook is keen to push hard.
"When you lose games of cricket it is never great," he said of his role as captain.
"Over a period of time, with affairs outside of cricket it became very hard. You kind of know what you are signing on to when you become captain.
"You have some incredible moments like at The Oval, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, but there is also a few dark moments as well.
"I'm proud of the way I've hung in there and now it is the next stage for me as a player and as a captain to try and keep going and going and improve with this side as long as we can."
Cook is confident his team will continue to improve after making positive steps over the last year and a half.
"There has been a lot of new faces in the England team and a lot of people who have taken their chance," he told the ECB podcast.
"Ben Stokes has been fantastic and Moeen Ali. In particular those two alongside your slightly more established players like Joe Root, who are really driving this younger English side forward."
The first Test against Pakistan takes place at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium, starting on October 13, with Tests at the Dubai Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Club to follow.
The Test series will be followed by a four-match one-day international series and concludes with three international Twenty20 fixtures.
