Cook rules out England return once and for all ...almost!

Sir AlAStAir Cook has moved to end speculation that he will be England’s knight in shining armour in this summer’s Ashes series by effectively ruling out any return to test cricket. Cook retired from international duty at the end of last summer after 12 years at the top, scoring a memorable century in his last test against india at the oval. England’s all-time leading test run-scorer hinted at a return this summer against Australia when, in a tV appearance in February, he said ‘never say never’. Cook, 34, also left the door ajar in an exclusive Sportsmail interview, saying: ‘You can never say never on anything, but i can pretty much say never on this. like anything, you don’t quite know.’ However, Cook (below), speaking prior to Essex’s County Championship opener at Hampshire on Friday, was emphatic when asked about a return. He said: ‘i was asked a very interesting question with about 18 different circumstances and i said, “You can never say never”. ‘But look, i’ve played my last game for England. ‘there’s always that one thing if there’s an absolute emergency, but i’m nowhere near that mindset. i’ve had 12 amazing years playing for England. ‘it’s time for the next generation of top-order players to try to make their mark. in terms of pulling on that cap and playing cricket for England, it’s sad it’s never going to happen again but i’ve had my time.’ the ongoing top-order problems that led to England’s shock 2-1 test series defeat in the Caribbean recently have also fuelled the theory that Cook could be asked to return this summer if he scores big runs for Essex early on this season. Speculation intensified when he made an unbeaten 150 in his first match back for Essex against Cambridge University last week.