Former England captain Alastair Cook will call it a day after the fifth and final test against India at the Oval. Cook, who is England's highest test scorer and also the sixth highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket, was undergoing a lean patch of form and even though he is only aged 33, his average in the last nine Tests read 18.62 which played a big part in this decision.
He has one of the giants in England cricket and has been a prolific run-scorer in tests right from his debut century which also came against India back in 2006 in Nagpur. His best run can in the Ashes in 2010-11 when he was the leading run-scorer and helped England clinch the Ashes in Australia after a span of 20 years. He was also an instrumental player in the historic win in India in 2012 when he as a captain and as a batsman he stamped his authority all over the series.
However, he has struggled in the recent past and pacers have troubled him with the line outside the off stump. A man with a tight defence, Cook has fallen to the fourth delivery line and this did not help England in any way.
His departure now leaves a big hole and England selectors have to start looking at different options. As many as 12 openers were tried as his partner after the retirement of Andrew Strauss, but the opening slot is far from settled.
Twitter paid its respect to one of the giants of modern day cricket:
Incredible career, lovely human. Hats off, Chef. https://t.co/loDflrHS8R
— mark butcher (@markbutcher72) September 3, 2018
Right from the time he made his debut against us in Nagpur, knew that he is a very special talent and will have a huge role to play in English Cricket .I wish to congratulate Alastair Cook on a wonderful career for England. #CookRetires
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 3, 2018
Not enough words to describe what a legend Cooky is. ???????? https://t.co/xcavET49VB
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) September 3, 2018
Alastair Cook = Jet!!?
— Wayne Parnell (@WayneParnell) September 3, 2018
No player has given more to the England cricket shirt .. No player has got more out of there ability .. No player has shown more mental strength than Alastair Cook .. More than that he is the nicest Cricketer we have ever had .. Thanks for all the memories Cookie .. #CookRetires
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 3, 2018
— 160 Tests
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) September 3, 2018
— 12,254 runs
— 32 hundreds
— 56 fifties
— 173 catches
— 4 Ashes series wins
— 1 Alastair Cook #ThankYouChef ? pic.twitter.com/pelJSg37Z5
Wow, end of an era with Cook calling it a day. Loved his determination and grit to score ugly runs on difficult conditions. All the best for the future. https://t.co/bcBk9Q0tVG
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 3, 2018