Alastair Cook to retire from international cricket after test series against India

[Turning_track]

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/alastair-cook-announces-retirement-after-final-test-at-oval-1866109.html?ref=hp_top_pos_3

England opener Alastair Cook has announced his retirement from international cricket. The final Test against India at the Oval, starting on Friday, will be his last international assignment. 

33-year old Cook, who also captained England, is the sixth highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 12,254 runs at an average of 44.88. He is also the highest run-scorer for England in Test cricket.
However, Cook has been going through a torrid time of late and has failed to make any substantial contributions at top of the order. His average for the year has dropped to a paltry 18.62 — the third lowest among openers in 2018 to have played at least 5 Tests. The current series against India is the first with three or more matches where Cook has not scored a single fifty-plus score and it is for the first time since 2008 that Cook has been unable to score a ton in the first 9 Tests of a calendar year.

“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 teammates was the hardest part of my decision, but I know the timing is right," Cook said in a statement.
“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."

“There are too many people to thank individually, but a special mention must go to the Barmy Army and all supporters for their constant encouragement for the team and also a special mention to Graham Gooch. As a seven year-old I queued for his autograph outside Essex County Cricket Club and years later was so fortunate to have him mentoring me. Graham was my sounding board, especially in the early years of my career, spending hour after hour throwing balls at me with his dog stick. He made me realise you always need to keep improving whatever you are trying to achieve."

“My family and I have had 12 wonderful years fulfilling my dreams and this could not have been done without them. So I wish to thank my parents and brothers, my wife, Alice, and her family for their quiet, unwavering support behind the scenes. As cricketers, who travel frequently, we often don’t realise just how important our families are to our success," he added.

The opener also said that he will continue to play for his county side Essex.

“I would also like to thank Essex County Cricket Club for their help and support ever since I was 12 and I can’t wait to get fully involved with them in the 2019 season.

“I wish the England team every success in the future, and I will be watching with great excitement.”

Cook remains the youngest player in history to score 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000 and 12,000 runs in Test cricket. Cook resigned as captain after leading the side for an England record of 59 Tests including Ashes victories at home in 2013 and 2015 as well as series wins in India and South Africa. He represented England in 160 Tests.

Off the field, Cook is known for his love for farming, describing it as his other passion in life outside cricket.

 

Edited September 3, 2018 by Turning_track

[LordPrabhzy]

Wonderful Wonderful player. The writing was on the wall when he smashed a ton on debut against India in 2006, I knew he was going to become an ATG for England.

 

Dont think any England player will ever come close to his stats. Not even Root probably.

 

I hope he hits a farewell century at the Oval. will be a great send off for a legend. Best of luck Cooky! 

[sarcastic]

Keep it up Cook for an outstanding career!!! You even threatened the great SRT's records once creating furores in some Sachin Bhakts. 

 

Have a good career/retirement life outside cricket! 

[Turning_track]

What a player he has been, a solid opener with a cool demeanour. Last few seasons have been tough but still he made a century in Rajkot & double centuries against WI & Aus in home & away proving he's still got a lot of fight. 

Deserves a grand farewell. All the best for future endeavors. 

[mishra]

What a player. Superb Superb opener. England will be struggle to find another Test Opener like him in next 5 years

[The Realist]

Retires at 33 instead of lingering on like a bad smell. Some lessons to be learnt.

[mishra]

1 minute ago, The Realist said:

Retires at 33 instead of lingering on like a bad smell. Some lessons to be learnt.

Actually he has been lingering on for quite some time. Apart from that one hundred in Australia, There is not much to talk about in past couple of years

[Temujin Khaghan]

Tremendous player... All the best for the rest of your life .. but a premature retirement nonetheless. He has atleast another 4 years in him.

[Sgattick10]

This is how u retire. Great call by the legend. 

[Chandan]

The Cricket Prof.

@CricProf

 

No man has scored more runs opening the batting in Test cricket than Alastair Cook. #ENGvIND

 

 

4:35pm · 3 Sep 2018 · TweetDeck

Edited September 3, 2018 by Chandan

[WC2011INDIA]

So I guess, we are going to lose the next test as well because we Indians have the habit of gifting...what better than a test ton and ending on a winning note. 

 

4-1 it is.

 

Hallelujah. 

 

 

 

[kruiser]

He would have retired mid series had we won this test..

[Chandan]

Cook was projected to score 16,321 runs at the end of his career just 6 months back on CricInfo. It was a pretty interesting article. Don't know if you all read it or not.

https://goo.gl/FiDgcv

Where will these young giants end their careers?

Now let us look the graph of the selected ten batsmen.

1. There is a 65% chance that Cook will overtake Tendulkar. I have converted the final % into a probability using common sense. This estimate is based on the fact that more than 75% of Cook's career is already over. Readers should remember that England play more Tests each year than any other country.The chances that either Cook or Root will overtake Tendulkar is probably as high as 80%. There is virtually no chance of the other four batsmen overtaking Tendulkar. I would put Smith's chances at 25%. I would put the chances of the other batsmen below 10%.

 

[nevada]

34 seems a couple of years too soon but Cook has been running on empty for a while now and has made the sensible decision to bow out respectfully. Good call on the retirement and congratulations on a great career.

[zen]

May be he sensed that he could get dropped and then it would be hard to make a comeback once Eng invests in a new player. Good move I would say. The pressure will be less on him and will probably play more freely at Oval 

[speedheat]

Good luck to him, one of may favorite batter.

[WC2011INDIA]

I want him to get a double ton and inflict maximum carnage on Indian ausss

[DHONI_FANN]

24 minutes ago, WC2011INDIA said:

I want him to get a double ton and inflict maximum carnage on Indian ausss

[Shunya]

Looking forward for a big score in final game...

Great career  

[Turning_track]

I still remember when England announced their test side in 2006 & players names, photos were being shown in an Indian news channel ,they didn't even had the photo of that 21 year old Essex County player.

He made his debut in old VCA stadium in Nagpur & scored a fine century, that test became the last one hosted by that stadium. What journey it had been for Cook since then.