Former England cricket captain Alastair Cook, the nation's all-time leading test run scorer, has officially declared his retirement from the professional cricket arena.
The 38-year-old left-handed opening batsman, who previously bid adieu to international cricket in 2018, devoted his entire county career to Essex.
In a heartfelt statement published on the Essex Cricket website, Cook expressed the difficulty of parting ways with the game he's been dedicated to for over two decades. He revealed that cricket has been more than just a job; it has been a journey that led him to places he could only dream of, allowed him to be part of extraordinary team achievements, and, most importantly, forged enduring friendships.
Alastair Cook, who amassed an impressive 12,472 test runs for England and earned 161 test caps, acknowledged that the time had come for him to step aside and "make way for the new generation to take over." Notably, Cook served as England's test captain from 2012 to 2017 and also led the team in 69 one-day internationals from 2010 to 2014.
One of his most memorable feats was during the 2010-11 Ashes tour, where Cook's remarkable contribution of 766 runs in seven innings played a pivotal role in securing England's first Ashes series victory in Australia in 24 years.
