After representing England in record consecutive 158 test matches England’s most prolific test run getter Alistair cook retires from International cricket and his 160th test which will be the final match of the current England vs. India series will be his last appearance for England in his 12 year test career.
Interestingly 33 year old Alistair Cook starts his test career against India in India in 2006 and scored a debut century in second innings after scoring 60 in his first test innings. Alistair Cook best test score of 294 runs also came against India in 2011 and know Alistair Cook announced retirement with his final test to be played against India. With 12,254 test runs till date under his belt placed him at 6th spot in all time highest scorer in test cricket.
Cooks recent patchy form and pressure from different corners due to lack of runs played pivotal role in his decision, as normally batsman gets better at age of 33 but Cook decides to hang his boots. He also captained England in record 59 test matches winning 24 and losing 22 with 13 matches’ results as drawn.
As Alistair Cook only scored 109 runs in first 4 test matches for England and not able to provide good starts to England despite having plenty of international experience, Alistair Cook decision to retire after the final test match guarantee him place in English playing eleven, however his performance over the past few series is not making him an automatic choice for England.
Whatever his recent performance suggest but he would bow down from England’s cricket arena with records of most test appearances (160), most runs (12,254), most centuries (32), most fifty’s (56) and most catches (173).
Alistair Cook’s records breaking career will keep him alive in English cricket for long time as with passage of time span of careers for modern cricketers are getting shortened.
