England opening batsman Alastair Cook will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval.
Cook, who has scored the most Test runs for England (currently 12,254) and is their most capped player (he will finish with 161 Test appearances), has been in poor form this summer and his position was coming under scrutiny following a run of low scores against India. Although he has decided to retire from England duty, he will continue to play for Essex.
“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 said in a statement on Monday.
“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. 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.”
The 33-year-old scored a memorable double hundred at the MCG during the winter’s Ashes series as well as a double century last summer against West Indies at Edgbaston but has found things tough in between times. He has scored just three half-centuries, in addition to the two double-hundreds, since the start of 2017 and has passed 20 twice in seven innings against India this summer.
During the fourth Test at the Ageas Bowl, Cook’s mentor Graham Gooch said he was worried that the opener was “flat-lining”.
