England's Alastair Cook announces retirement from international cricket

Image Courtesy: Twitter/@ICC

Former England captain Alastair Cook on Monday announced retirement from international cricket.

Cook, best-known for his Test run scores, announced that the ongoing Test series against India will be his last. 

England will be playing the last Test match against India from 7th September after which Cook won't be seen playing in International cricket format. 

Cook while reminiscing his career said, "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." 

“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,” he said. 

“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.”

"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," he added.

The International Cricket Council took to Twitter and announced the news of his retirement. 

BREAKING: Alastair Cook has announced he will retire from international cricket following the fifth #ENGvIND Test at The Oval.

Full story https://t.co/B1gjrBpzpn#CookRetires pic.twitter.com/kBz0GxkaKh

— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2018

Former English cricketer Michael Vaughan also lauded Cook saying that he has contributed a lot towards his country's game. Addressing him as Cookie, Vaughan took to Twitter and said that he (Cook) is the nicest cricketer England has ever had.  

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

Alastair Cook is currently on the sixth rank of the all-time list. In order to move up a position, he will have to score 147 runs in the next Test match which will also be his final.

#MondayMotivaton #CookRetires #ThankYouChef pic.twitter.com/iLmGioEIzF

— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2018

His final Test match against India will be his 159th match in a row. 

Cook also tops the list of top 5 English run scorers with 12,254 runs. He is followed by Graham Gooch and Alec Stewart with 8,900 and 8,463 runs respectively.

He also tops the list of most consecutive matches. He has played 158 Test matches since 2006 followed by Allan Border who played 153 matches.

Cook is remarkably known for his performance during England's Ashes win in 2010-11 and against India in 2012-13. 

Cook plays for Essex County Cricket Club. He made his debut for the first XI in 2003. He was called up to join England's Test side in 2006. Cook scored 1000 runs in his maiden year and also stunned everyone by scoring centuries in his first Test matches against India, Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh.