‘Incredible to sign off this way..’

Dreams come true as Cook signs off with a sensational fairytale final ton to leave England on brink of victory

finish as he could have wished for to bring the curtain down on his career – and give England an iron grip on the Fifth Test.

Cook said: “Sometimes dreams come true.

“Ever since it was announced, I suppose you hope you have a good week. To top it off with a score here is just incredible.

“It has just been the most surreal four days of my life. From a purely selfish point of view, I couldn’t have asked for a better week.

“There have been bigger games and games that have meant more, but to have a day like that was a nice way to go.

“I don’t know how I’ve managed it, but to go out on your terms with your last-ever innings as a hundred, and to get a win would make it even more special.”

Cook shared in a huge 259-run partnership with Joe Root, who also made a hundred on the day that James Anderson drew alongside Glenn McGrath (above) with 563 Test wickets.

“Giving it up is a big thing, but when you know it is right, it is right,” added Cook. “The ovation when I got my hundred was just incredible.

“I don’t know what Joe said to me out there – it was just phenomenal.”

ALASTAIR COOK signed off with a fairytale 33rd Test match hundred for England – and admitted ‘dreams do come true’.

The opening batsman nicknamed ‘Chef ’ made 147 against India at The Oval to hoist his final tally to a staggering 12,472 runs.

It was about as perfect a