OPEN AND SHUT CASE
12 years literally at the top and Cook says a part of him will die when he leaves field for last time as an England cricketer
ALASTAIR COOK had to reassure a friend he was not dead after all the glowing tributes, but admitted he was in mourning over his England career.
It is understandable after 12 years spent living out his dream of being England’s rock at the top of the order. When the 33-year-old opener leaves the field for the last time as an England cricketer next week, part of him will inevitably die.
He said: “I’ve always had that mental edge, I’ve always been mentally incredibly tough and had that edge to everything I’ve done, but that edge had kind of gone.
“The thing I’d found easy before wasn’t quite there and to me that was the biggest thing.”
And even though Cook has plenty to look forward to, not least the birth of his third child due at any moment, he revealed the adjustment to being a ‘former’ England cricketer would take time.
“I’m going to miss the buzz,” said Cook, overlooking the Oval, venue for his final Test. “When there’s a tight game, all that kind of stuff like when Edgbaston’s rocking.
“You’ll sit there with jealousy watching people play for England, however I’m very content with what I’ve achieved.
“There is going to be a transition, a period, of course there is. There are going to be times when you get that mourning, but I think having the opportunity to play for Essex over the next couple of years will help a lot.
“It would be a big step going from all I have ever lived for, which is playing cricket and chasing my dreams, to suddenly not having that would be a big thing.
“I’ve never been the most talented cricketer and I can’t pretend I was, but I definitely think I got everything out of my ability.
“It’s gone better than I could ever have imagined. That’s why I can safely say I’m retiring sad in one way, but also so content in what I have achieved. It makes it a lot easier.”
What if the baby arrives at 9am on Friday? Will he miss the final curtain call? “I think Alice might have to do it by herself,” he added. “We have spoken about it. If it comes then, I’ll meet it later on.
“Ideally it will come after the match or even better you get a hundred then it comes when they’re about to bat and you don’t have to field. And then you come back and have another bat second innings, but I doubt that will happen.”
What a glorious finale that would be for Cook, with yet another Test match hundred to go with the 32 he already has. But if anyone knows how hard that will be to achieve, it is the only man to have played 160 Tests for England.
He was smart enough to name Ishant Sharma as one of the toughest opponents he has faced, with one more duel against the India seamer to come.
And if anyone was in any doubt, he added: “I think everyone knows opening is the toughest job in the team. I’m still going to say that now I’ve finished.”