Alastair Cook

[Indian Bee]

Retires from International cricket.

I think the time is right. Sadly he isn’t the player he once was. Great career nonetheless.

 

[Banana]

Retires from International cricket.

I think the time is right. Sadly he isn’t the player he once was. Great career nonetheless.

Nooooooooooo

:sad:

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

Good that he's done it with a game to go, so they can try someone else in the final test - probably 2 as Jennings must be dropped also

Has had a great career, but seems the right time to go

 

[Les Beeavinu]

A legend, plain and simple. I can't at the moment get my head around the test side without him. Glad he was allowed to make his own decision.

 

[alikat]

Good that he's done it with a game to go, so they can try someone else in the final test - probably 2 as Jennings must be dropped also

Has had a great career, but seems the right time to go

I suspect that the selectors will give him the game at the Oval, just so that he can get his final round of applause for a great career. Ordinarily I would have no issue with that, but, since he's only averaged 18.62 in 2018, it should, as you say, be the ideal opportunity, especially with the series already won, to blood someone else in his place (and probably, as you also say, another in Jennings's place).

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I'd like to think that a 100 at The Oval is inevitable.

 

[Indian Bee]

Just noticed his test average is below 45 for the first time in a decade.

Everyone knows my view on him but looking back on his career one of his biggest achievements was captaining England victory in India. I’ll still rank Graham Gooch as England’s best opener together with Marcus Trescothick. Cook is the third best I have seen.

 

[liverbee]

Undoubtedly great. The weight of "Just Stay In" seems to have got to his game of late.

 

[wanderer paul]

The best of his time, for England that is. Hopefully get to end his International career at The Oval.

Now the trouble will be, replacing the top two and a number three!

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

I suspect that the selectors will give him the game at the Oval, just so that he can get his final round of applause for a great career. Ordinarily I would have no issue with that, but, since he's only averaged 18.62 in 2018, it should, as you say, be the ideal opportunity, especially with the series already won, to blood someone else in his place (and probably, as you also say, another in Jennings's place).

Have since seen that he expects to play, so my initial comment based on misunderstanding.

 

[JANORAK]

R5 were musing (Aggers?) along these lines this morning. I got the impression he'd been told Cook wouldn't be touring this winter, and it's now become full international retirement. After 160-odd Tests, he probably feels he's done his bit & ex-captains shouldn't hang about too long after!

 

[CTBee]

I suspect that the selectors will give him the game at the Oval, just so that he can get his final round of applause for a great career. Ordinarily I would have no issue with that, but, since he's only averaged 18.62 in 2018, it should, as you say, be the ideal opportunity, especially with the series already won, to blood someone else in his place (and probably, as you also say, another in Jennings's place).

We want Cook to play at the Oval. If Rory Burns is selected he will miss two championship games for Surrey!

 

[halibutbee64]

Probably a good decision for him to make. He seems to get out in the same manner time after time. He’s been a great servant to English cricket and he’s leaving on his own terms.
I will be at the Oval on Friday to see him get a farewell 100 on the first day.
After the Oval we may be looking for a number one two and three batsman.
Any ideas?

 

[alikat]

We want Cook to play at the Oval. If Rory Burns is selected he will miss two championship games for Surrey!

Agreed, but he could still come in for Jennings instead, although I suspect that the selectors will give him another chance. Potentially though, we could be without Curran, Pope and Burns for the next 2 County games, but I would guess that it will probably just be Curran.

 

[Indian Bee]

Probably a good decision for him to make. He seems to get out in the same manner time after time. He’s been a great servant to English cricket and he’s leaving on his own terms.
I will be at the Oval on Friday to see him get a farewell 100 on the first day.
After the Oval we may be looking for a number one two and three batsman.
Any ideas?

I’m not a great follower of county cricket so not sure who is out there but I can imagine in the next two years England will not only need to find a top 3 but also need to replace Anderson and Broad. That will be England’s biggest task.

I predict England will have a tough time in Sri Lanka in the winter whom have just beaten SA.

 

[halibutbee64]

I’m not a great follower of county cricket so not sure who is out there but I can imagine in the next two years England will not only need to find a top 3 but also need to replace Anderson and Broad. That will be England’s biggest task.

I predict England will have a tough time in Sri Lanka in the winter whom have just beaten SA.

Pundits on sky suggested Anderson will be ok for the Ashes in 2019 and possibly the following year.
I suppose Broad may have 2-3 years left in him.
That's a bit of time but like you I am not too up on county cricket, nor am I aware of any young fast bowlers who are developing.

 

[Indian Bee]

Pundits on sky suggested Anderson will be ok for the Ashes in 2019 and possibly the following year.
I suppose Broad may have 2-3 years left in him.
That's a bit of time but like you I am not too up on county cricket, nor am I aware of any young fast bowlers who are developing.

I can certainly see Anderson playing next summer but will retire after that. Broad magic spells are becoming less and less.

One final thing about Cook is that a player whom only plays one form of the game should not be retiring at 33. Gooch was playing some of his best innings at that age and thereafter. I think the Ashes loss when he was captain and the fall out over KP took a lot out of him. Honesty thought after he gave up the captaincy after the India loss he would perform with the bat again. He has retired on his own terms but a stronger management team dropping him may have well motivated him to get back in the team. Cook has contributed nothing to this series sadly.

 

[Judio1999]

SIR Alistair Cook

Knighthoods should really be given later in life ....

 

[TW3Bee]

Thread title needs to be changed.

 

[Indian Bee]

Was shocked when I read this ..... not deserved.

 

[Banana]

Was shocked when I read this ..... not deserved.

Agree. Twiggy is a far more deserving case

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Agree. Twiggy is a far more deserving case

Sir Twiggy doesn't sound right though.

 

[TW3Bee]

Was shocked when I read this ..... not deserved.

Are any of these deserved?

What's the difference between an OBE and MBE, and what privileges do you get from them.

Is there any point being a Member of the British Empre when there isn't much of the Empire left?

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Are any of these deserved?

What's the difference between an OBE and MBE, and what privileges do you get from them.

Is there any point being a Member of the British Empre when there isn't much of the Empire left?

What, we still have one? The title should be changed really shouldn't it?

 

[Holysmit]

Love Cooky but a knighthood is a bit much at this point and i'm sure he would agree as well.

 

[Indian Bee]

My main point is that Cook was awarded or had his MBE upgraded to a CBE a couple of years ago so what has he actually achieved in the last two years to now receive a knighthood?

 

[Edmundo]

Are any of these deserved?

What's the difference between an OBE and MBE, and what privileges do you get from them.

Is there any point being a Member of the British Empre when there isn't much of the Empire left?

It's member/officer/commander of the Order of the British Empire - not the Empire itself!

 

[wanderer paul]

Love Cooky but a knighthood is a bit much at this point and i'm sure he would agree as well.

But he accepted it, so he doesn’t agree.

You can always turn down an honour.

Too early for him to be awarded such an honour. Hadlee received a knighthood while still playing too.

Too late now.......

 

[Stanley]

and what privileges do you get from them

None

 

[TW3Bee]

None

Just the Kudos then?