The long-time English opening batsman and former English Test and ODI captain, Alastair Cook has decided to retire from the international cricket after playing the upcoming fifth and final Test of the five-match home Test series against India, starting on this Friday (September 7).
The left-handed opening batsman has a long international career after making his debut for England in 2006. He has played 160 Tests, 92 ODIs and four T20Is for England national cricket team.
The 33-year-old has achieved numerous records in international cricket, especially in Test cricket as he has dominated in that special format. The left-handed batsman has scored 12,254 runs in Test cricket with the average of 44.88, including 32 centuries and 56 half-centuries. His highest Test innings knock is 294 against India at Birmingham in 2011.
In his limited-overs international career, Cook has scored a total of 3,265 runs. His last limited-overs international cricket match was on December 16, 2014 against Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS).
Some important international career records (both for England and overall) of Alastair Cook (updated till September 3, 2018):
- Most Test matches played for England (160 Tests).
- Played most Test innings as an English batsman (289 Test innings).
- Most runs scorer in international cricket as an English batsman (15,519 runs).
- Only English cricketer to score 10,000+ Test runs (12,254 runs).
- Only opener to score 10,000+ Test runs (11,627 runs).
- Most Test runs scorer as an England captain (4,844 runs).
- Most runs scorer in international cricket as an England captain (7,372 runs).
- Longest ever Test innings played as an English batsman (836 minutes).
- Most consecutive Test matches played for a team (158 Tests running).
- Most number of international centuries scored as an England batsman (37 centuries).
- Most number of Test centuries scored as an England batsman (32 centuries).
- Most number of international centuries scored as an England captain (16 centuries).
- Most number of Test centuries scored as an England captain (12 centuries).
- Longest ever batted in a Test series as an English batsman (2,151 minutes).
- Involved in most Test matches victory for England (66 Tests).
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Our GOAT. What he has achieved at 33 years young is incredible. Thanks chef pic.twitter.com/hVbzIbi9bG
— Eoin Morgan (@Eoin16) 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
#AlastairCook has been one of the finest batsmen to have represented @ECB_cricket, and his conduct on-field and off it, has been impeccable. Well played Alastair. Wish you all the very best for what your 2nd innings has in store for you! pic.twitter.com/Y2mZd31GaN
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 3, 2018
What a brilliant career for Alastair Cook! One of my favorite Batsman in world cricket…
An absolutel legend on and off the field n england's finest Slip fielder,Role model for any aspiring young cricketer…#CookRetires— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth) September 3, 2018
Heartbreaking that Alastair Cook is retiring.
What a magnificent, stubborn, brilliant player.
Go get yourself a hundred at the Oval.#CookRetires pic.twitter.com/BeWyoB3Zdi— James Phillips (@MrJPhill) September 3, 2018
Great career mate #alastaircook All the best for everything going forward…Enjoy ur retirement #Topguy
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 3, 2018
Congratulations Alastair Cook on a glorious career. You can be very proud of the way you played. Best wishes for the future.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 3, 2018
Not a total surprise but sad when a great player gives up the game. Alastair Cook began his illustrious Test career against India, &now ends it against India. He was an effective, unostentatious &highly successful cricketer. He will be missed. https://t.co/3ny4QQdPX2 #Cookretires
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 3, 2018
