Alastair Cook Retirement: Check Out Quotes on England's Highest Test Run Scorer
Interestingly, Cook made his debut against India in the year 2006, his highest test score of 294 also came against India and he will be playing his final match against India too.
England opener Alastair Cook has announced that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final test match between India and England in the ongoing test series. England has already won the series 3-1 after India faltered chasing 246 to win the test in the fourth test at Southampton. India Lose Southampton Test by 60 Runs, Suffers Test Series Defeat Vs England: Reasons Why Virat Kohli-led Team India is 3-1 Down Against The Hosts!
India not only lost the match and series, but fell agonisingly short of the target, losing the match by 60 runs after losing the first Test match by 31 runs, when the team succumbed from a favourable position chasing a target of 194 at Edgbaston, Barmingham.
Cook, who has played 160 Test matches, has 12,254 runs to his name with one more test match to go. The batsman hasn't been in the best of form for past few months and series. But he will still retire as England's highest run-getter with most number of matches and hundreds. Cook also holds the record in Cricket for playing most number of test matches at a stretch. The final fifth test against India will be his consecutive 159th match.
Below are what a few cricketers have said about Cook:
1. Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott once said that if he had to pick a team of the world's best players, "Alastair Cook would open the batting."
2. "Cook can challenge (Sachin) Tendulkar's Test run record" said Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar about the England opener.
3. "What a brilliant career for Alastair Cook! One of England's finest. Can retire with great pride at what he has achieved"- Harsha Bhogle
4. "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."- Michael Vaughan
Wishes and regards for Cook continue to pour on a stellar career. Interestingly, Cook made his debut against India in the year 2006, his highest test score of 294 also came against India and he will be playing his final match against India too.
Humble as he has been, be his batting or demeanor, Cook announced his retirement in characteristic Cook style.The opener said that "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."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2018 05:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).