Well done, Superdaddy
Cheered on by his girls, England hero Cook bows out with a stunning century
HE is one of England’s greatest cricketers – and yesterday he was determined to bow out in style.
To the delight of the nation, Alastair Cook scored a hundred against India in his final Test innings. But to two little girls in the rapturous crowd at the Kia Oval in London, only one thing mattered: the hero providing the fairytale ending was their daddy.
Cook, 33, was watched by daughters Elsie, four and Isabelle, 23 months – and by his heavily pregnant wife Alice, who had been due to give birth yesterday.
Elsie pointed, cheered and looked through binoculars as the former England captain approached his landmark, while Mrs Cook tried to get Isabelle to pay attention.
When the moment came and Cook reached a century for a record 33rd time, the crowd gave him a tumultuous three-minute standing ovation. He leapt for joy and was embraced by captain Joe Root, who was batting with him.
Teammates applauded wildly in the dressing room. The batsman turned to salute the spectators, who included groups in chef’s hats – Cook’s nickname is Chef.
By the time he was out for 147, the part-time farmer had become the highest-scoring left-hander in the history of the game and only the fifth player to score a hundred in both his first and last Tests.
The Indian players rushed to shake his hand as Cook left the crease. Avid cricket fan Sir Mick Jagger – who was in the crowd – was among many celebrities to tweet their congratulations to Cook, even though the batsman’s century cost him £20,000.
The Rolling Stones singer, 75, had pledged a donation to cricket charity Chance To Shine for each 50 and 100 scored, and for bowlers taking three and five wickets.
Cook’s 71 in the first innings had already earned £10,000 and Sir Mick’s donation has reached £140,000 with a day of the Test to go. Sir Mick tweeted: ‘Congratulations Alastair Cook on your farewell 100 and for giving us all such pleasure over the years.’
Theresa May called it ‘ a fitting end to a remarkable career’, while the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral School, where Cook was a chorister between the ages of eight and 13, and Bedford School, which he subsequently attended, also sent messages of congratulations.
Sportsmail’s Nasser Hussain, a former England captain and onetime teammate of Cook at Essex, said: ‘ The week he has had, the pressure he has been under, everything he has had to do, the emotional strain he has been under … to be able to dig deep and put in such a performance was Cook at his best. Vintage Cook.’
Another former captain, Michael Vaughan, said: ‘ That was a very, very special moment … All of us who are privileged to be here today will remember that for ever … If any person deserves that send-off it’s Alastair … Fairytales do happen.’
COULD there be a better role model than Alastair Cook? One of the most prolific Test batsmen of all time, he exudes professionalism and quiet charm.
Eschewing the boozy nightclub culture enjoyed by some of his colleagues, he is a devoted family man and part-time farmer.
With the bat, he has been a master. Only four men in history scored more Test runs and he ended his career yesterday as he started it, with a century.
We salute a truly great sportsman.