‘Sad day’ as Cook calls time on England career

England’s all-time record runscorer Alastair Cook will retire from international cricket after this week’s Oval Test.

Cook, who has made 12,254 runs in a 160-Test career over the past 12 years, issued a statement yesterday confirming the news.

He described it as a “sad day” but says he will retire “with a big smile on my face, knowing I have given everything”.

The former captain, a fourtime Ashes winner, added that at the age of 33 “there is nothing left in the tank” to continue to serve beyond this summer.

Cook said: “After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India.

“Although it is a sad day, I can do so with a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything, and there is nothing left in the tank.

“I have achieved more than I could have ever imagined and feel very privileged to have played for such a long time alongside some of the greats of the English game.”

Cook, who has indicated he will play on next summer for his county Essex, has endured a lean summer at the top of the order for England, averaging just 15.57 in seven innings against India which have mustered only 109.

He nonetheless stands sixth in the all-time global list of leading Test run-scorers, just above West Indies great Brian Lara.

Alastair Cook: Sixth on list of leading Test run-scorers.