PHOTO
England's Alastair Cook waves as he leaves the field after playing in his final test match during the fifth Test cricket match between England and India at The Oval in London on September 11, 2018. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB
Former England captain Alastair Cook announced his retirement from cricket on Friday, bringing the curtain down a record-breaking career.
The left-handed opener's 12,472 Test runs is the most by any English batter and fifth in the all-time list.
After retiring from international duty in 2018, he carried on playing for Essex and won the County Championship in 2019.
However, his contract expired at the end of the recently completed domestic season and Cook has decided against playing on.
"It is not easy to say goodbye," Cook said in a statement. "For more than two decades, cricket has been so much more than my job.
"It is the right time for this part of my life to come to an end.
"I have always given absolutely everything I possibly have to be the best player I could be, but now I want to make way for the new generation to take over."
