Alastair Cook to bid adieu from international cricket after 5th Test v India; says he will retire with a big smile
Alastair Cook
England's all-time record run-scorer Alastair Cook will retire from international cricket after this week's Oval Test. Cook, who has made 12,254 runs in a 160-Test career over the past 12 years, issued a statement yesterday confirming the news. He described it as a "sad day" but says he will retire "with a big smile on my face, knowing I have given everything".
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The former captain, a four-time Ashes winner, added that at the age of 33 "there is nothing left in the tank" to continue to serve beyond this summer as Test opener. Cook said: "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. "Although it is a sad day, I can do 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."
Cook has indicated he will play on next summer for his county Essex. Cook added: "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. "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."
161
No. of Test matches Alastair Cook will have played in after the Oval tie, the most by an Englishman
12,254
No. of runs scored by Cook in Tests, the sixth in all-time list. He now needs 146 at The Oval to move alongside Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara to fifth place
59
No. of matches Cook has led England in, the most by any English captain
32
No. of Test tons scored by Cook, the most by an Englishman. Five of those are double hundreds
Four
No. of Ashes series wins Cook has been part of, including two as captain
92
No. of ODIs played by Cook. He has also played four T20Is
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