[Cricket] Alastair Cook to retire from Test cricket

[larus]

I’d always hoped he would last a bit longer and rediscover some of his form. But, 158 straight test matches is incredible.

As others have stated, the dearth of opening partners since Strauss will probably have impacted his game too. Feelings much relies upon you all the time is draining - having someone to share that with a feel that if you fail it’s not disasterous will help anyone.

Next few years could be a rebuilding time. What with Anderson getting close to the end, and Broad not being as effective as he has been recently too.

Yes, we’re blessed with all rounders at the moment, but lack a solid top-three now. Root needs to go to 4.

An interesting idea I read earlier was moving Bairstow to 3. I know he has the gloves too, but Stewart opened and kept too. That would open up the 5-8 positions more and allow more options on Woakes, Stokes, Butler, Ali, Curran. I can see Curran batting above Stokes soon anyway.

But thanks Alistair. Superb player and the last year is not something which I nor others will judge you on. The tours of Aus and India are arguably the pinnacle of your careeer. Enjoy your retirement.

 

[vegster]

Sad loss but the timing is right, he has gone well off the boil in the last couple of years and his average is only going in one direction now
Thanks for all the great memories and a fifty at least at The Oval would be a marvellous way to end.

 

[GT49er]

Really?

Yes.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

He's been going downhill for a while, and could have been dropped earlier if everyone else hadn't been crap.

Pity but time catches up with all of us eventually

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Regular score of 10 for 3 each test over the winter.

Were loose.

 

[Beach Hut]

Great shame and he has had a very good test match career, wonder who will take his place.....

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

A bit like the news of Tim Henman retiring from tennis

 

[Perry Milkins]

Yes.

Mis-read the Nigel's post and got the wrong of the stick.

 

[spring hall convert]

An interesting idea I read earlier was moving Bairstow to 3.

Not in English conditions I shouldn't think. He doesn't play the moving at all well.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I’d always hoped he would last a bit longer and rediscover some of his form. But, 158 straight test matches is incredible.

As others have stated, the dearth of opening partners since Strauss will probably have impacted his game too. Feelings much relies upon you all the time is draining - having someone to share that with a feel that if you fail it’s not disasterous will help anyone.

Next few years could be a rebuilding time. What with Anderson getting close to the end, and Broad not being as effective as he has been recently too.

Yes, we’re blessed with all rounders at the moment, but lack a solid top-three now. Root needs to go to 4.

An interesting idea I read earlier was moving Bairstow to 3. I know he has the gloves too, but Stewart opened and kept too. That would open up the 5-8 positions more and allow more options on Woakes, Stokes, Butler, Ali, Curran. I can see Curran batting above Stokes soon anyway.

But thanks Alistair. Superb player and the last year is not something which I nor others will judge you on. The tours of Aus and India are arguably the pinnacle of your careeer. Enjoy your retirement.

England are fast tracking Jofra Archer, so that's 1 place sorted

 

[Brian Fantana]

I played against him at school, and he scored a double hundred against us without giving a chance away. At that stage, he looked a class above any other schoolboy cricketer I'd ever played against. Not even that usual thing where a school team has one really good player who stands out, Cook was just on another planet.

His record of 158 consecutive tests is quite outstanding, and as others have said he might well be the last great test batsman that we see.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Gary Balance is averaging 68 with 951 runs this season... can play no 3.

 

[Mackenzie]

Watch him go and score a ton this week.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I played against him at school, and he scored a double hundred against us without giving a chance away. At that stage, he looked a class above any other schoolboy cricketer I'd ever played against. Not even that usual thing where a school team has one really good player who stands out, Cook was just on another planet.

His record of 158 consecutive tests is quite outstanding, and as others have said he might well be the last great test batsman that we see.

To be fair, in this series Kohli and Pujara have both looked high quality test batsmen. Until they fell on their sandpaper swords, Smith and Warner were still top drawer in tests with the bat. Alma averages 47 in tests, AB de Villiers over 50. Bit early to be saying last of the great test batsmen.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Gary Balance is averaging 68 with 951 runs this season... can play no 3.

Walking wicket last time he was picked

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Walking wicket last time he was picked

Yep. trapped on the crease all the time. Was good against most bowling, but found out against pace.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

A class act, as well as being engaging and articulate. A long media career beckons.

Hasn't he already had one? Amazing to be playing so well, post mortem!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistair_Cooke

 

[Bodian]

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283683.html




That's a helluva list of players to be near the top of.

And look at his bowling average!!

 

[jakarta]

To be fair, in this series Kohli and Pujara have both looked high quality test batsmen. Until they fell on their sandpaper swords, Smith and Warner were still top drawer in tests with the bat. Alma averages 47 in tests, AB de Villiers over 50. Bit early to be saying last of the great test batsmen.

Hasn't AB also Quit Test Cricket?

 

[BensGrandad]

Gary Balance is averaging 68 with 951 runs this season... can play no 3.

Hopefully not he has failed in the past a number of times but he is a mate of Root so who knows.