Alastair Cook admits losing edge lead to England retirement
Written by News on 05/09/2018
Alastair Cook has said his decision to retire from international cricket came after seeing signs he was losing his edge as a player.
The 33-year-old is England’s all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket and captained the side more times than any other player.
But, the opener has managed just one Test half-century this year – scoring 70 against Pakistan at Lord’s in June – and averages just 15.57 across the first four matches in the current series against India.
“Over the last six months there have been signs in my mind that this was going to happen,” Cook said.
“I told Rooty (captain Joe Root) before the game (at The Ageas Bowl) and told Trevor (Bayliss) during the game.
“I have always been mentally incredibly tough and (have had) an edge to everything I have done. Everything I have found easy before wasn’t quite there and to me that was the biggest sign.”
Cook also added that his lowest moment during his career was over how Kevin Pietersen’s exile from the national side was handled in February 2014.
“The KP affair was a tough year, the fallout for that wasn’t great for English cricket or for me,” he added.
“The whole fallout of it, the end of the Sri Lanka series – the Test at Lord’s, was the lowest I was.”
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(c) Sky News 2018: Alastair Cook admits losing edge lead to England retirement
