Alastair Cook, England’s record Test run scorer, will play his 161st and final Test match at the Oval this week after announcing his retirement. During the fourth Test Cook had told those closest to him about his decision to retire, before announcing it to the whole squad. His decision is another big step towards Joe Root stamping his own mark on the England team with Cook’s retirement now leaving James Anderson and Stuart Broad as the last remaining members of the team that reached No 1 in the Test rankings in 2011.
From the moment Cook walked to the team room as a young player in Nagpur in 2006, it was clear to everyone that he was a special person. At that time none of them realised how good a player he was, but he fitted in straightaway and had the air of an international cricketer. He had scored a number of runs from schoolboy through to county level and had made a double hundred against Australia for Essex which showed his confidence. He was a natural player and was not overawed.
The fact that he had opened the batting for for 12 years and handled the captaincy for four of those shows his immense mental strength. He is one of the strongest sportsmen England have ever produced. He did not suffer any serious injury during his career shows his fitness. Cook will be given a grand send off this week, and as one of cricket’s strongest minds he should be able to handle the inevitable swirl of emotions as he leaves a game that has been his life.
He admitted in a statement that he has become worn down by the pressures of Test cricket after a summer in which he has averaged just 18 and made only one score above 50. Cook’s love of the game remains strong however, for he confirmed he will play one more season for Essex in 2019, repaying the debt he owes to the club that gave him his chance in cricket.
“After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India,” he said. “Although it is a sad day, I can do so with a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything and there is nothing left in the tank. I have achieved more than I could have ever imagined and feel very privileged to have played for such a long time alongside some of the greats of the English game. The thought of not sharing the dressing room, again, with some of my team-mates was the hardest part of my decision, but I know the timing is right.
“I have loved cricket my whole life from playing in the garden as a child and will never underestimate how special it is to pull on an England shirt. So I know it is the right time to give the next generation of young cricketers their turn to entertain us and feel the immense pride that comes with representing your country.”
Cook thanked the England supporters and Graham Gooch, the man he replaced as England’s leading all time run scorer.
Cook has scored 12,254 runs for England and hit 32 Test centuries, his last being 244 in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. He has made 158 consecutive Test match appearances, a world record, and captained the side for four years winning two Ashes series at home.
