England slump after Cook out

– Alastair Cook (above) marked his final Test appearance with a fifty before India’s Jasprit Bumrah sparked an England collapse at the Oval yesterday.

England only lost one wicket before tea and were making steady, if slow, progress at 131/1 on the first day of the fifth Test.

But Cook’s exit for 71 sparked a collapse that saw six wickets lost for 48 runs, with England captain Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran all out for noughts.

At stumps, England were 198/7, with Ishant Sharma taking three for 28 in a miserly 22 overs and fellow paceman Bumrah two for 41 in 21 that included two wickets in four balls.

Cook, England’s all-time record Test run-scorer, was making his final appearance at this level before international retirement.

The 33-year-old left-handed opener, who will continue to play for Essex, came into this match having scored 12,254 Test runs at an average of 44.88 including 32 hundreds.

But he has struggled for runs lately, with his previous best score this series the 29 he made during India’s 203-run win in the third Test at Trent Bridge.

“The guard of honour was such a nice gesture but you’re focused on batting and you don’t have time to appreciate it,” Cook said.

“The reception was fantastic. it went on a bit and that makes you more determined not to get out. There is nothing worse than going out without contributing. I am disappointed to get out when I did.” –

London