Cook to call time on England career at end of the week
Alastair Cook, England’s leading test run-scorer, is to retire from international cricket after this week’s fifth test against India.
Cook, who will play his 161st test starting on Friday, is the sixth highest scorer in five-day cricket with 12,254 runs, including 32 centuries.
The left-handed opening batsman, who captained England in 59 tests, admitted there was “nothing left in the tank” after enduring a poor run of form in nine tests this year in which he has averaged 18.62 runs compared with a career average of 44.88.
“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,” Cook, who will continue playing for his county Essex next season, said in a statement.
“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.”
Since making a century on his test debut against India in 2006, Cook has become England’s leading scorer in the longest form of the game.
Published: by Radio NewsHub