Alastair Cook, a cricketing great for England and a former Test captain, has retired from competitive play and said his final goodbyes to the game. Following considerable rumor during the LVInsurance County Championship‘s closing rounds, Alastair Cook finally confirmed his intention to retire.
Alastair Cook conveyed his feelings about leaving in a moving statement that was posted on the Essex website. He described his path, which started when he was eight years old playing for Wickham Bishops Under 11s and ended with a successful career spanning more than two decades. Alastair Cook reflected on the relationships he had built, the locations he had been, and the incredible accomplishments of his cricketing career.
Alastair Cook posted a statement on the Essex website saying, “Today I am announcing my retirement and the end of my career as a professional cricketer.”
“Leaving is not an easy thing to do. Cricket has been so much more to me than just a career for more than 20 years. It has given me the opportunity to see places I never imagined visiting, to work on teams that have accomplished feats I would never have believed possible, and—most importantly—to forge lifelong friendships.
“I end with a peculiar mixture of pride and regret, having played for Wickham Bishops Under 11s since I was eight years old. Above all, I want to say how delighted I am.
Although the 38-year-old retired from international competition in 2018, he still made a contribution to the Essex county squad. His efforts were not in vain as he was crucial to Essex’s success in winning the Bob Willis Trophy and the Division One championship in 2019.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Essex, the county I joined when I was aged 12,” Cook said. “I want to extend a sincere appreciation to everyone at Chelmsford for all that you have done for me. The staff, members, and fans have all consistently shown such kindness, tolerance, and support.
Cook amassed nearly 26,000 first-class runs over the course of his lengthy career, 11,337 of which were for Essex. He amassed an additional 7,500 runs in limited-overs cricket, proving he was no dummy either. During his playing career, Cook also dabbled in the media, most notably by working as a Test Match Special summariser for the BBC.
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