Record-breaking Cook to end England cricket career

England batsman Alastair Cook will retire from international cricket after this week’s test against India, saying yesterday there is “nothing left in the tank” after 12 record-breaking years in the team.

An elegant and gritty left-handed opener, Cook is leaving the international game holding a slew of national records in tests: most runs (12,254), most appearances (160), most centuries (32) and most tests at captain (59). He played in 158 straight tests - a world record - and captained England from 2012-17, during which the team won back-to-back home Ashes series and a first series victory in India in 27 years.

“The thought of not sharing the dressing room again with some of my teammates was the hardest part of my decision,” the 33-year-old Cook said, “but I know the timing is right.”

Cook has endured a lean summer at the top of the order for England, averaging only 15.57 in seven innings against India. But he stands sixth in the all-time list of leading test runscorers, just above West Indies great Brian Lara, and needs 147 at The Oval to move past Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in fifth place.

“He’s probably not the most naturally gifted cricketer,” former England captain Alec Stewart said, “there will be others with far more natural talent that haven’t got the mental strength.

“The combination of what Cook has, both talent and mental strength, has meant he’s played for a very long time and has broken every single record going.”

Cook, who will play next summer for English county Essex, made his test debut in March 2006 as a late replacement for Michael Vaughan and made an unbeaten 104 in the second innings. He missed the third test of that series because of illness but hasn’t missed one since.