My script couldn’t have been written better: Alastair Cook on his retirement

England’s batting legend Alastair Cook, who bid adieu to the game with a 118-run victory at The Oval, said that the script could not have been written better for him.

Everything fell into the place for the England batting maestro in his final Test, as hit form and bowed out with a glorious century (147) in his final innings. England also romped to victory giving Cook the best send-off possible, while the audience and the fans in the stands cheered every moment of the match that involved one of the best players of their generation.

“Most amazing week, one you could not have scripted. Just been amazing, great to contribute to an England win, and win the series 4-1. It was also a great game of cricket, to go into the last session of the last day with all four results possible. It was a great advert for Test cricket,” said Cook said the post-match presentation, quoted PTI.

Also Read: Virat Kohli: We may have lost the series 4-1 but were not outplayed

“It has been a great moment, sad moments. The amount of hard work, the pressure and strain, I won’t miss that. But you miss the highs and the rewards, playing with this team, be great to see how they develop. This week can’t be beaten, I can walk away with my head held high.”

The 33-year-old also was full of praise for James Anderson, who on the day crossed Australian Glenn McGrath to be the highest wicket-taking fast bowler in international cricket. Jimmy, who now has 564 wickets – one more than McGrath – is fourth in the list of the all-time highest wicket-takers.

Calling him the greatest England cricketer, Cook said, “To see Jimmy pass Glenn McGrath’s record was brilliant. That was the hardest bit, he and Broady are the ones I’ve played the most with, to know I’ll never stand at slip and drop another catch off them is sad. We’ve lived in each other’s pickets for 12 years.”

“Been a privilege to play with England’s greatest cricketer, no disrespect to any other guys. But his (Anderson’s) skills to do it time and time again, you almost take it for granted, that’s he’s going to hit a length. The game was a little bit tight, but he didn’t miss his length once,” added Cook who finishes fourth in the all-time highest run-scorers in Test cricket.

With 12472 runs from 161 Tests, Cook is, however, the greatest left-handed Test batsmen in world cricket.

Also Read: James Anderson surpasses Glenn McGrath to become highest wicket-taking fast bowler

Anderson couldn’t hold himself back and with teary eyes said, “Happy that Cooky was on the field to see that wicket,” talking about his record 564^th wicket. The final wicket of the series fittingly fell for him when he uprooted Mohammed Shami’s middle-stump to lead England to victory and with it sit on the pedestal of fast bowlers.

“It’s been a tough week. When they were building the partnership it was looking like they would get close, my job was just to hold an end. Thankfully we took the new ball and gave me a chance to get the wicket. Cook has been brilliant, just being there for me all the time.”

Image Source: NDTV Sports