king canary 7,607 Posted September 3, 2018 Retiring from International Cricket after the 5th test.One of the best English batsman in my lifetime. Got tickets for the test so look forward to giving him the send off he deserves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzar 1,702 Posted September 3, 2018 A true great of the game. The poor form of the last 12 months won''t alter the fact he''s arguably the greatest batsman to play for England.His test runs record will stand for years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy 3,300 Posted September 3, 2018 Indeed a true great, have to say great timing too, as after this 12 months his value will start to be questioned so going out at the top before being dropped.Great miss for England, can’t see any replacements out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badger 2,405 Posted September 3, 2018 A great player and a person that will be missed. I''m glad he has chosen to retire now though, as it has been painful watching his decline.I hope he gets a great send off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duncan Edwards 2,236 Posted September 4, 2018 Loads of runs although I’ve never really enjoyed watching him bat - that’s not to say that he hasn’t been exceptionally good - because he has. I always liked watching Stewart or Thorpe or Pietersen although you’d probably rather have a Cook or an Atherton digging in under pressure. Fantastic test record though, huge amount of runs and seems like a decent bloke. Bet he’d get on with Russell Martin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill 1,788 Posted September 4, 2018 I used to enjoy his Letter from Americasadly they ended when he died(though the Proclaimers did try to revive the idea) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ROBFLECK 132 Posted September 4, 2018 Top, top cricketer... I don''t think we will see the like of him in years to come...Test cricket is not "sexy" enough any more , I love it , but most don''t have the patience for it I feel. I hope he can be a mentor to some young lads like Gooch was for him... atm our top order batting line up is real cr@p outside of Cooky and Root... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king canary 7,607 Posted September 4, 2018 As a team we''ve got too many big hitting number 6 players and nobody with the grit to dig in. Cook used to be that guy but his form has tailed off.I don''t watch enough county cricket to have any idea about replacements though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,767 Posted September 9, 2018 Needs a few more runs to become 5th top runscorer. Good luck to him.I also enjoy a bit of test match cricket, but not being a die hard I know little about who is coming through. It does look like we will be going to Sri Lanka needing to replace him and Jennings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hogesar 9,674 Posted September 9, 2018 The reality is he could keep playing because with my albeit limited knowledge I dont see too many obvious replacements. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duncan Edwards 2,236 Posted September 9, 2018 Hoggy, he absolutely could. Yet he has decided that his heart ain’t in it any more. It surprises me a bit because the test arena is his domain. He isn’t going to go and demand big figures in the IPL or Big Bash like KP because he doesn’t have that explosive nature. He is though, a very good technical batter. He could do the future England players the world of good if he shares his knowledge and technique. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SwindonCanary 455 Posted September 9, 2018 Replacements = Roy Burns , James Vince or Joe Denly all need a chance to prove themselves. Rory Burns Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/04/four-players-who-could-replace-alastair-cook-as-england-hero-prepares-to-retire-7913044/?ito=cbshare Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/Rory Burns Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/04/four-players-who-could-replace-alastair-cook-as-england-hero-prepares-to-retire-7913044/?ito=cbshare Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TIL 1010 4,748 Posted September 10, 2018 Cook very quickly reached his 50 this morning with a four. Currently on 57 and Root on 33. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill 1,788 Posted September 10, 2018 He''s on 60 do keep up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TIL 1010 4,748 Posted September 10, 2018 Got to his century with 4 overthrows. [:D] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AJ 1,221 Posted September 10, 2018 Bizarre way to get it, but the ton is up!4 overthrows, wow... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king canary 7,607 Posted September 10, 2018 Sat in the stands at the oval watching him bat like a champ in the sun. Better than most Mondays. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icecream Snow 761 Posted September 10, 2018 In years to come that''ll make a good quiz question - who scored a test century on the first test appearance and again in their last test appearance.Wonder if anyone else has managed it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill 1,788 Posted September 10, 2018 oh dearIndia chasing 460 or so to winhave just lost their first two wickets .... for 1 runstop pressthey have score another ....... but lost another wicket !2 runs 3 out Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yellowbeagle 0 Posted September 10, 2018 I don''t know what the commentators/ex players have against Cook. They never seem able to complement his achievements without a little dig. The highest scoring English Batsman ever tells me they should pretty much shut up. Going to be a big miss in the top order. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SwindonCanary 455 Posted September 10, 2018 They have mentioned it on sky 3 other men have got a century in their first and last innings . I doubt if anyone has a 50 in his first innings and 100 in his second innings on both his debut and last match Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icecream Snow 761 Posted September 10, 2018 [quote user="SwindonCanary"]They have mentioned it on sky 3 other men have got a century in their first and last innings . I doubt if anyone has a 50 in his first innings and 100 in his second innings on both his debut and last match [/quote]I''m watching the highlights on 5.I thought they said it was 5 players who had got a hundred in their first and last match but didn''t name them.Apparently Cook and Bruce Mitchell of South Africa (who he?) got a 50 in each innings of their first and last test matches. But yeah, I''d imagine 50 + 100 in both is unique. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fiery Zac 1,066 Posted September 10, 2018 [quote user="Yellowbeagle"]I don''t know what the commentators/ex players have against Cook. They never seem able to complement his achievements without a little dig. The highest scoring English Batsman ever tells me they should pretty much shut up. Going to be a big miss in the top order.[/quote]??Didn’t hear any digs. On sky, all the commentators were gushing with praise for Cook (quite rightly).Nasser Hussain (the best pundit on Sky) called him ‘probably England’s greatest ever batsman’. Quite right, it’s debatable because of whether people judge the greatest as the most consistent and important of their time which Cook (as an opener) undoubtedly has been or whether they judge the greatest to be the most entertaining to watch such as Gower or Pieterson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yellowbeagle 0 Posted September 10, 2018 [quote user="Fiery Zac"][quote user="Yellowbeagle"]I don''t know what the commentators/ex players have against Cook. They never seem able to complement his achievements without a little dig. The highest scoring English Batsman ever tells me they should pretty much shut up. Going to be a big miss in the top order.[/quote]??Didn’t hear any digs. On sky, all the commentators were gushing with praise for Cook (quite rightly).Nasser Hussain (the best pundit on Sky) called him ‘probably England’s greatest ever batsman’. Quite right, it’s debatable because of whether people judge the greatest as the most consistent and important of their time which Cook (as an opener) undoubtedly has been or whether they judge the greatest to be the most entertaining to watch such as Gower or Pieterson.[/quote]That''s the same Nasser that in the same breath this afternoon as praising him said he wouldn''t teach a young player his technique. Yesterday he said he had been "found out". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleCanary 5,562 Posted September 10, 2018 [quote user="Fiery Zac"][quote user="Yellowbeagle"]I don''t know what the commentators/ex players have against Cook. They never seem able to complement his achievements without a little dig. The highest scoring English Batsman ever tells me they should pretty much shut up. Going to be a big miss in the top order.[/quote]??Didn’t hear any digs. On sky, all the commentators were gushing with praise for Cook (quite rightly).Nasser Hussain (the best pundit on Sky) called him ‘probably England’s greatest ever batsman’. Quite right, it’s debatable because of whether people judge the greatest as the most consistent and important of their time which Cook (as an opener) undoubtedly has been or whether they judge the greatest to be the most entertaining to watch such as Gower or Pieterson.[/quote]If he said that then that is absurd. Modern test batsmen tend to have superficially impressive or at least inflated records because they generally play on better wickets than in the past and get some cheap runs against inferior opponents. Just as an opener, Cook would be well behind Hobbs, Sutcliffe and Hutton, who all had much better averages (which is the real mark of talent, rather than runs scored) despite coping with bad wickets and only playing against the best. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SHRIMPER 328 Posted September 10, 2018 The five to have scored a 100 in their debut test and their last are.REG DUFF (AUSSI)WILL POLSFORD (AUSSIE)GREG CHAPPELL (AUSSIE)MOHD AZHARUDDIN (INDIA)And the person I watched today do it AL COOK. It was a privilege to be there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleCanary 5,562 Posted September 21, 2018 Norfolk fast bowler Olly Stone named in the touring party for the tests against Sri Lanka. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
