Team India skipper Virat Kohli shared high praise for veteran England opener Alastair Cook at the toss of the fifth and final Test at the Oval.
Meanwhile, with the series done and dusted, all eyes will be on Cook. The southpaw departs as one of the most decorated cricketers in the history of England cricket. He has played more Tests, scored more runs and more centuries than any England cricketer.
Alastair Cook announced that he would bid farewell after the completion of the ongoing series. Speaking on the development, he admitted that it was a well thought out decision.
“After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India,” Cook said.
Since his debut way back in 2006 in Nagpur, Cook didn’t have to look back. He has so far amassed 12,254 runs in 160 Tests. Cook played a crucial role in making England one of the best Test teams in the world between 2009 and 2013.
Alastair Cook also led Englandanin a English record 59 Tests and won 24 of them. Highlights of Cook’s reign as England captain include two home Ashes victories, as well as series wins in India and South Africa.
Virat Kohli heaped praise on Alastair Cook
Team India opener also joined the bandwagon of players who talked highly of the veteran England opener. Speaking at the toss, Kohli praised the England star and called him a great player.
“We have seen too much of Cook at times. Cook has been a great great player. To get 12,000 runs as an opener in these conditions and all over the world is outstanding. He will go down as one of the greatest openers in Test cricket,” Kohli said during the toss.
Meanwhile, England have got off to a good start at Oval adding fifty runs for the first wickets. Alastair Cook, who looked out-of-form so far, has started to look good in his last Test.