After a remarkable 20-year career, Alastair Cook, the iconic figure in English cricket and former Test captain, has decided to retire, marking the end of his journey in the professional cricketing arena.
In a sincere message posted on the Essex website, Alastair Cook expressed his feelings about his departure. He reflected on his incredible journey, which commenced when he was just an eight-year-old playing for Wickham Bishops Under 11s and extended into a remarkable career lasting more than two decades. Cook fondly recalled the enduring friendships he formed, the places he had the privilege to visit, and the extraordinary accomplishments that graced his cricketing life.
As a left-handed opening batsman, he solidified his status as one of the all-time greats in English cricket. Over the course of his illustrious England career, spanning 161 Tests, 59 of which he led the team as captain, he etched his name in history by amassing a remarkable 12,472 Test runs, a record that still stands for England.
“Today I am announcing my retirement and the end of my career as a professional cricketer,” Cook said in a statement on the Essex website.
“It is not easy to say goodbye. For more than two decades, cricket has been so much more than my job. It has allowed me to experience places I never dreamed I would go, be part of teams that have achieved things I would never have thought possible, and, most importantly, created deep friendships that will last a lifetime.”
“From the eight-year-old boy who first played for Wickham Bishops Under 11s to now, I end with a strange feeling of sadness mixed with pride. Although above all, I am incredibly happy.”
“It is the right time for this part of my life to come to an end. I have always given absolutely everything I possibly have to be the best player I could be, but now I want to make way for the new generation to take over.“
At the age of 38, this cricketing legend clinched victory for his home team as captain in two thrilling Men’s Ashes Series, a feat accomplished in 2013 and again in 2015. Notably, he was named the Player of the Series in the historic 2010-11 Ashes Series held in Australia, where he displayed remarkable form by amassing an incredible 766 runs with an astonishing average of 127.66.
The journey for this cricket icon began when he made his debut in first-class cricket for Essex back in 2003, a journey that truly took flight two years later when he achieved a remarkable double century while representing his county against the visiting Australian team.
Cook’s contributions to Essex were also marked by two victories in the LV= Insurance County Championship, with the pinnacle being his role as the top run-scorer during their triumph in 2019. His retirement from the game leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of 26,643 first-class runs, including a remarkable 74 centuries, all at an average of 46.41.
In recognition of his unwavering dedication to the sport, Cook was rightfully bestowed with a knighthood in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list for his exceptional services to cricket.
