Alastair Cook calls time on his cricket career after English county season ends
Alastair Cook (source-twitter)
Former England skipper and batting great Alastair Cook has retired from all forms of cricket. The decision came after the end of the English county season ended recently. Cook was playing for Essex and passed up on the offer to renew his contract.
The left-handed batter turns 39 later this year and was considered one of the greatest test players of this era. As a captain Cook was instrumental in England winning the Ashes series at home. Under his captaincy England won their first test series in India for a long time during their 2012 tour.
Despite his high scoring, Cook decided to hang up his boots in international cricket in 2018. The Oval test versus India was his last where he scored a fifty and a century in the second innings. India was the opponent against whom Cook had made his test debut in 2006 in Nagpur and scored a ton on debut.
Alastair Cook hangs up his cricketing boots
Former England skipper Alastair Cook has bid goodbye to cricket at the end of the English domestic season. His last game for Essex was against the Northants team where he scored six runs in each innings.
The former English legend released a statement which read “It is not easy to say goodbye. Cricket has been so much more than my job. It has allowed me to experience places I never dreamed I would go, be a part of teams that have achieved things I would never have thought possible, and, most importantly, create deep friendships that will last a lifetime”
The statement further read “From the eight-year-old boy who first played for Wickham Bishops Under-11s to now, I end with a strange feeling of sadness mixed with pride. Above all, I am incredibly happy”
Essex couldn’t win the title despite being in the race and Cook chose this time to walk away from the game. The former test great has already made his presence felt in the commentary box and will continue to do so.
Cook’s statement concluded by saying “I have always given absolutely everything I possibly could have to be the best player I could be, but now I want to make way for the new generation to take over”
