N ANANTHANARAYANAN
SOUTHAMPTON: A long journey has been a theme in the career of Alastair Cook, one of England’s greatest batsman and former skipper who announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday. A career which started against India will end against them as the opener will sign off with the fifth Test , starting at the Oval on Sept 7.
The 33-year-old, England’s highest Test run-getter, flew half way across the globe after he was summoned from the A squad in the West Indies to Nagpur, scoring a century on debut in March, 2006. Cook’s 60 and 104 not out in the two innings of the drawn game marked a smooth transition as Andrew Strauss’s junior opening partner.
Two days earlier, skipper Michael Vaughan had yanked out a bottle cap and spat out as he stormed off the training ground at the VCA Stadium, frustrated after his dodgy knee gave up one last time. Andrew Flintoff was presented as the new skipper at a Nagpur hotel that evening.
“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,” Cook said in a statement. He felt “the timing is right” and it would let the next generation of batsmen to step up, although the cupboard appears rather bare.
His 12,254 runs in 160 Tests and 32 centuries are all England records. He has also played 158 consecutive Tests, an all-time record. Six centuries came against India, including the 176, Australia
Runs against opponent countries (matches)
(35 matches) W. Indies (20) 122 and 190 during the 2-1 away win in 2012-13 under his captaincy. His highest, 294, also was against India, at Birmingham in 2011. The timing of announcement is ideal, as England under Joe Root, his successor, have just clinched the series against India.
But Cook’s own timing as batsman has gone awry. In this series, Ishant Sharma has exploited his weakness against pace and movement bowling from around the wicket. His best is 29 in seven innings. Before the Edgbaston Test, Cook was asked about his form at a media interaction when it was meant to be about his future career. He had just hit 180 against India A to warm-up for the series. “Now everyone asks when I’m going to retire. I’m glad they haven’t in this press conference,” Cook said. “It’s just different. I enjoyed my time as England captain. It’s a hard job. But it’s also a very rewarding job. You get tested in ways you never thought you would be.”
There was weariness in Cook’s replies by the end of the 2016 India tour, after England collapsed in the final session of the fifth Test to hand India a 4-0 victory. He quit as captain soon after. The same questions have now risen about his batting. Unlike Cook’s start, England could find it hard to find a replacement this time.