England vs India 2018: Alastair Cook - The Marvel of Cricket Who Retires

The stage is set in the United Kingdom (UK) – to be precise, in London. There is a mist in the air even though it is highly likely to be sunny. With fans expected to wear a gloomy look, and why shouldn’t they, as they are going to witness their favourite champ, Alastair Cook saying goodbye to international cricket. Yes, you heard it right: for the one final time in the coveted whites for England and that too against the No.1 Test Team India.

Undoubtedly, it is going to be a massive farewell and unforgettable narrative for the Three Lions’ vanguard over the years.

Frankly, I was never his biggest fan, but Alastair Cook deserves a hero’s sendoff. He is the man from Essex, after all. And over the years, Cook had the right recipes on offer to delight the taste buds. Certainly, there is more about the last hurrah than what is lost.

Alastair Cook is more than a fairy tale:

Broadcasting giants in England; Sky Sports’ camera crew would be solely focusing on Cook rather than overall Kennington Oval Test match. With pun intended, why would they be interested in a dead rubber, as the series result had already been done and dusted? But that has to be another day’s topic.

Living those moments and coming back to Alastair Cook, wouldn’t it be a pleasant sight to watch especially sporting spectacles with a beatific smile rather than the infamous ball-tampering saga which unfolded in March at Cape Town in South Africa?

Why not, he is bidding adieu to the game for what he has given his sweat and blood over 12-long years. And I can boast about waxing lyrical about the master and protégé at the same time.

Many believe in a journey by saying there is a long way to go and on the similar lines, baby-faced Cook stepped up to the gas to carve out a niche there in Gloucester before bursting onto the international circuit to grab the eyeballs, then the headlines on newspapers and tabloids respectively. However, for all the good reasons except that Kevin Pietersen thing. Maybe, one fine day, the reconciliation would make good friends out of them like Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli.

In the meantime, over the years, Cook has been questioned for his dismal show, but his authoritative approach answered critics before he actually stepped in and tendered the apology during the press conferences.

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Courageous Cook has defied all odds, shed tears of joy, and witnessed agony at the same time. And this is the beauty of cricket—to make the professional stronger than ever.

As a writer, I won’t be digging too much into the statistics of Cook, but the nightmare he is going through during the ongoing India-England is obvious which was put to rest by his decision by terming ‘tank is empty’ at such an age where many professionals in distinct sports made a strong comeback to beat the drum.

So far in seven innings, Alastair Cook only managed to score 109 at the wishy-washy average of 15.59, as his best 29 came during the first innings of the fourth and penultimate at Ageas Bowl in Southampton. It not only crept him under pressure, but pushed him to take one of the difficult decisions of his life.

In 2015, the left-handed opener surpassed his guide-in-a-side Graham Gooch’s score of 8,901 runs — to become leading Test run-getter for the Three Lions.

Far away from the field, statistics is not merely foddering for the imagination. While spending 2,171 minutes at the crease during the traditional 2010-11 Ashes series, Cook smashed 766 runs during five match series against Australia. And this says a lot about the tough character like Cook in itself.

Owing to the plethora of records, Cook who scored at the pace: the speed F1 racers are more habitual of on the racetrack. He went on to set a benchmark by becoming the youngest cricketer to register 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000 and 12,000 in the Test fold.

Cook started off his Test career in March 2006 against Rahul Dravid-led India, with a bang, by collecting substantial 60 off 160 deliveries. Well, this showed early glimpses of his real character of being patient and potent for the fortunes of England over the years. And then in the same innings, he racked up his maiden Test hundred by remaining unbeaten on 104. And there on, the ex-England captain earned accolades and won the hearts of many before addressing his fanbase.

Alastair Cook, who become overall 16th English player to kick off his Test career with a ton, had a major influence on his teammates owing to the ascendancy before his outstanding approach went on to see selectors and management investing a lot in him. And his fitness has been a fascinating thing to talk about in the cricket circles.

In June 2018, Cook eclipsed Australia’s Allan Border while playing his 154th consecutive Test for England. Cook, who surpassed Kevin Pietersen after smashing 24th Test ton way back in 2012, also holds a record of being the first skipper to register a hundred in the first five Test matches.

Be it a record partnership of 329 alongside veteran Jonathan Trott at Gabba, Brisbane, or his most extended innings of 263 in the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan, ‘Cooky’, as his mates call him, is known for his temperament, diligence and resilience. He had spent plenty of time at the crease in Australia during the Ashes series in between the dismissals. And such records force us to raise eyebrows much to our surprise.

In 2007, exactly after six-odd months and in his maiden year, Cook amassed 1,000 runs. He is the first and solitary English cricketer to achieve such a milestone. In the Test fold, rewinding the clock, in December 2007, Cook had an affair with numbers. The ardent batsman registered his seventh hundred in a nutshell before actually celebrating his 23rd birthday.

Enticingly, much before the clock would hit 12 in the mid-night—to see Cook celebrating his 22nd birthday, he went on to become first-ever English cricketer to amass four tons at such an age. Well, such a feat came in December 2006. From Australia to India; dust bowls to green tops, Cook managed to rise against the tide, like staunchest of the sea surfers year after another before finding his name among the elites of the gentleman’s game. Also, Alastair is the leading run-scorer for England in India with 866 runs under his belt.

Alastair Cook: the springboard and sheer delight for the cause:

The 33-year-old Cook appeared to be more traditional of sorts. Much before decoding the mystery of facing the spin demons in the Asian conditions. Prudently, as a young gun, Cook defied all the odds to play like a champ. He thwarted the threat of veterans in the form of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble in Nagpur Test, back in 2006.

From rank turners to the fast bowling paradise, Cook settled well with the scores. With this finesse and supremacy, he becomes a legend of the game.

Hold on, Cook’s story is more about surfboards and wetsuits on the beach. And his reel life story could be absolute gold in the future. And you know that over exaggeration in Bollywood industry regarding biopic made those professionals pinch themselves for a moment and good following the lucrative deals. Anyway, we are not discussing romance but the admission of spirit and passion which a cricketer like Cook taught us over the years.

Arguably the best in the business in the contemporary cricket, classy Cook so far played 160 matches for England. He amassed 12,254 runs at an average of 44.88. Well, specific questions might strike our mind he could have done far better owing to his potential—to smash those daddy hundreds. But this is how cricket is, and you never know what future holds for you in the same breathe. Either you win it or lose the battle. Such is the significance of meeting the fate.

Talking about his captaincy and well-bred approach, Alastair forced many to look at him with his sheer talent. He has been such an exciting and prominent face of the Test cricket.

Clinging upon opportunities, Cook marshalled his troops well in the whites to win 24 Tests in 59 fixtures. Clumsy at times, Alastair during his tenure lost 22 Tests as 13 ended in a draw. As However, as a true Test leader, he registered 4,844 runs under his belt.

In the limited-overs fold, Alastair Cook, featured in 196 ODIs. He simultaneously led England in 69 ODIs in which he didn’t have much of the success. The courageous Cook won 30 matches while losing out on 36 games as a single match turned out to be a tie. However, he went on to play 24 Twenty20 Internationals to lead England in the only match which they lost.

Delightful to watch, Cook, who is set to retire as the Three Lions overall highest Test run-getter to be specific. He will leave the podium on a high as a vanguard for the English team.

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Well, the passing line has to be: he started off on the right note. But as they say, every damn good thing will ‘eventually come to an end’. And so as, the era of champion. Cook had to gulp down beer to announce his retirement before his teammates. What a lad!

Tribute:

Alastair Cook’s career is more about the embarking on the audacious rise, the ghost, the effect and above all the monster who lost touch to say goodbye.

For England, Cook has been the rockstar on the cricketing field. Judiciously, Cooky for many, and jokingly Chef in the dressing room.

Thank you, Alastair Cook, for being down to the earth. Wish you’ve had decided to refuel the tank and regain the lost touch and entertain us again.

In conclusion, the gruelling Test series between England and India will be etched in memories. And yes, for a good reason or so.