Cook quits Test captaincy after months of speculation
ALASTAIR COOK has stepped down as England Test captain.
Cook was appointed skipper in August 2012 and was in charge for 59 Tests, leading England to Ashes victories in 2013 and 2015.
The 32-year-old is England’s most-capped Test captain as well as their most prolific batsman, scoring 11,057 runs in 140 Tests.
Cook’s last series as captain was the 4-0 defeat to India late last year and he said: “It’s been a huge honour to be England captain and to lead the Test team over the past five years.
“Stepping down has been an incredibly hard decision but I know this is the correct decision for me and at the right time for the team.
“I have had time to reflect after the India series and this weekend I spoke to Colin Graves, the chairman, to explain and offer my resignation.
“It’s a sad day personally in many ways but I want to thank everyone I’ve captained, all the coaches and support staff and, of course, the England supporters and the Barmy Army who follow us home and away and have given us unwavering support.”
He added: “Playing for England really is a privilege and I hope to carry on as a Test player, making a full contribution and helping the next England captain and the team however I can.”
Director of England Cricket Andrew Strauss paid tribute to Cook and will now turn his attention to appointing a successor.
He said: “I want to thank Alastair, on behalf of the ECB and from a personal perspective, for the fantastic contribution that he’s made to the England Test team since taking over as captain in 2012.
“We now move on with the process of appointing the right successor. We expect to be able to make an announcement before the team head to the West Indies on February 22.”
Although Strauss has indicated an announcement will be made before the end of the month, England do not play another Test now until July.
Batsman Joe Root is the overwhelming favourite to replace Cook, but England head coach Trevor Bayliss indicated last week that all options would be looked at.