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Alastair Cook acknowledges the crowd after he finished the day not out with 244 runs against Australia on December 28, 2017. EPA
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England's Alastair Cook leaves the field after being dismissed during the second day of the first test between England and India at Edgbaston. AP Photo
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Alastair Cook holds up the Ashes Urn during the presentation ceremony after the end of the fifth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test against Australia at the Oval in 2013. AP Photo
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England's Alastair Cook leads out teammate Keaton Jennings to open the batting during play on the first day of the foruth test against India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. AP Photo
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England batsman Alastair Cook picks up some runs during day one of the 4th Specsavers Test Match between England and India at The Ageas Bowl. Getty Images
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Alastair Cook takes the catch to dismiss India batsman Pant off the bowling of Moeen Ali during the 4th Specsavers Test Match between England and India at The Ageas Bowl. Getty Images
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Alastair Cook celebrates scoring his double century against Australia on the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket Test match at the MCG. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V4WZZ6ERUZYP7ZDB5557MI4NC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad7604cc42b3e62015ca0c7494041cbf06a18fdc8807cc969c95d4f2f7a2ccf5&width=400&height=225)
Alastair Cook acknowledges the crowd after he finished the day not out with 244 runs against Australia on December 28, 2017. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2AOMXHDR5HJ576S2TTWNF7GWTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f320f92a47c2e7ff34fc9090486c6ea38b192e496ee6d3502e56331e64101702&width=400&height=225)
England's Alastair Cook leaves the field after being dismissed during the second day of the first test between England and India at Edgbaston. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPUGWUPOAQEHSU34R7NG3EBM2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=834cc60fe76d325e3674cbc0c53a484129967a16c9449e21310296d349dd6977&width=400&height=225)
Alastair Cook holds up the Ashes Urn during the presentation ceremony after the end of the fifth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test against Australia at the Oval in 2013. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FS32DF72TMGEKYO2CKLISC7VUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5dbb17990fc97d70c19369980e9b7710398ea5c6d1b0157a372ef423ee3d7722&width=400&height=225)
England's Alastair Cook leads out teammate Keaton Jennings to open the batting during play on the first day of the foruth test against India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JRUCWPDZGUM3GJKL5DCVCIWIYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4646b20ba5b8d607bfde14ab8888b4a2251e1a58a574ee0b78d4750074fe8d9b&width=400&height=225)
England batsman Alastair Cook picks up some runs during day one of the 4th Specsavers Test Match between England and India at The Ageas Bowl. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W3OXKK6AA5TLYQA6HOXYZEI364.jpg?smart=true&auth=d575e8eacbf54f07ff81998f25b6895fef1b7ff05d32f2775b88a60d67ddbe2a&width=400&height=225)
Alastair Cook takes the catch to dismiss India batsman Pant off the bowling of Moeen Ali during the 4th Specsavers Test Match between England and India at The Ageas Bowl. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NTKZFMPVPONQLBDZQWJ7VDHJWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8ce6750fbfc6c1053dbbcbc0b092d5766f0fa1d1b9a2724d9a03845f2be4921a&width=400&height=225)
Alastair Cook celebrates scoring his double century against Australia on the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket Test match at the MCG. AFP
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Alastair Cook acknowledges the crowd after he finished the day not out with 244 runs against Australia on December 28, 2017. EPA
Alastair Cook's retirement feels like the death knell for Test cricket
England are waving goodbye to a one-of-a-kind player
![Ian Oxborrow](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F17d8e8ae-9d4c-4c39-9df9-321a626a521f.png?smart=true&auth=6235a7864f7cbc035d8070e77b37d3fcc19ce99154bfca710e2ca34c776c2e10&width=70&height=70)
Ian Oxborrow
04 September, 2018
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