YET HE OFFERED TO STEP DOWN BEFORE OVAL TEST

ALASTAIR Cook offered to step down before his 161st and final Test, telling Ed Smith he would understand if the selectors chose to leave him out after a poor run of form leading up to the oval.

But Sportsmail understands Cook also told Smith he was available to play one final game, if selected, before retiring from international cricket.

And when Smith, who has made a very good impression in his first summer as national selector, asked Cook if he still had the fight to play another Test match, Cook replied that he did. At that point, Smith told him he would play.

The conversation took place not long after Cook had announced his retirement following the conclusion

of the fourth Test in Southampton. At that point, he had made 109 runs against India at an average of 15, and later admitted he had lost his ‘edge’.

Instead, Cook responded with 71 in the first innings at the oval, his highest Test score of 2018, before surpassing that with 147 in the second.

Rory Burns, Joe Denly and James Vince are all in contention to take part in November’s three-Test series in Sri Lanka, with keaton Jennings — who averaged 18 against India — expected to hold on to his place.