Former England captain ends his playing career at age 38Cook holds England Test records for runs and centuries
After a fairytale farewell to Test cricket at the Oval five years ago, Alastair Cook has quietly called time on his decorated playing career altogether, announcing via a statement on Friday that the 2023 county season was his last as a professional cricketer.
The news is not unexpected, with reports of the 38-year-old’s intention to retire from playing emerging towards the end of his 21st summer in the Essex first team and the club’s denials notably noncommittal. Cook, it became clear, did not want a great fanfare during a low-key final outing against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
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