Cook to play county cricket in 2019 after retiring from England duty
Tuesday 4 September 2018 11:59, UK
Alastair Cook has "got a lot of cricket in him", says Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate, as he prepares to continue his career at Chelmsford.
Cook, England's all-time leading Test run scorer, will retire from the international game after England's fifth Test against India at The Oval, which is live in Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Friday.
However, the opener has confirmed he will continue to play county cricket for the 2019 season at least and Ten Doeschate told Sky Sports News that he will be "delighted" to team with him.
"He's only 33 and I think a sustained period of cricket and that enjoyment that he still gets from doing well suits him and suits us amazingly well," said the Essex skipper ahead of his club's Specsavers County Championship fixture at home to Surrey, in which Rory Burns, a contender to succeed Cook at the top of the England order, is playing for the visitors.
"I think he's still got a lot of cricket in him. It's great for us and obviously we'll be delighted to have him around. He's a great bloke.
"Cricket achievements aside, his humility and his desire for the game and to share his knowledge is truly inspiring for everyone to see."
Cook's Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara says he always knew the left-hander, who will play his 161st Test at The Oval and his record 159th in a row, was destined for a glittering international career.
"As soon as he made his debut for Essex in the full first team you could see he was something special," added Bopara, who played 13 Tests, 120 ODIs and 38 T20Is for England.
"I remember Graham Gooch sitting next to me at the time and saying: 'This kid's good, isn't he?' He went on and showed that through his career."
Read Gooch's take on Cook's international retirement HERE.
If there's a spot going there [for England] it would be nice but we'll have to wait and see.
Watch day one of the fifth Test between England and India, Cook's last, live from 10am on Friday on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404) and Main Event (channel 401).
Comment below to get involved in the debate, but please adhere to our House Rules. If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click 'Report'.
