Alastair Cook announces retirement from international cricket

England batsman Alastair Cook, who has been struggling with his poor form for a long time, has announced his retirement from international cricket and the fifth Test against India at The Oval would be his last match. 

The former English skipper, who has scored the most Test runs for his country (12,254*), was under scrutiny after his poor run of low scores against India. In the seven innings against India, Cook could cross 20 just twice.

"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.

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Cook, most-capped English batsman in Tests (160 Test appearances so far with last match remaining) said that it was the right time for him to give young generation cricketers their chance to represent the country.

"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," he added.

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Cook has begun his Test career in 2006 with a hundred in Nagpur against India. And it’s nothing less than a wonderful coincidence that he will finish against the same team. However, he will continue to play for Essex.

The 33-year-old player is the sixth highest run-scorer in Tests only behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289), Rahul Dravid (13,288) and Kumar Sangakkara (12,400). Currently, Cook has 32 Test hundreds to his name.

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