Alastair Cook to retire after 5th Test against India

Dubai, Sep 3 - England's Test opener and leading run-scorer Alastair Cook on Monday announced that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Test against India.

"After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India," Cook was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"Although it is a sad day, I can do so with a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything and there is nothing left in the tank," The 33-year-old added.

Cook was the leading batsman in two of England's greatest overseas triumphs in Test history, England's Ashes win in 2010/11, and their victory in India in 2012/13, according to the statement issued by ICC.

However, his form has waned in recent times, and despite scoring double hundreds against the West Indies and Australia within the last year, he has averaged less than 35 since giving up the captaincy at the end of 2016, a move many expected to rejuvenate him. 

Cook has only passed fifty once this year, and has decided that now is the right time to call it a day.

Cook has totalled 12,254 Test runs and 32 Test centuries so far, his final Test at The Oval will be his 159th consecutive game in the longest format, the longest such streak in all international cricket. 

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