Alistair Cook

Agree, he has been a great player but definitely time for him to give way. I'm sure touring in the heat of Sri Lanka, along with a young family, will be have been a big influence.

An absolute run machine at times, I think the Ashes tour 2010/11 was his high point.

 

Fairytale end to a great career.

 

Hope he gets the catch today to give Jimmy his McGrath beating wicket.

Great innings yesterday, what a way to go out.

 

Think that's as near as I've come to shedding a tear over sport over the last 2 days, great to watch for all us cricket fans. The 2005 Ashes really got me into watching cricket after playing but not been that interested in watching. Can still remember watching Cook on debut, not wanting to go to school as he got closer to a debut 100 even though he bored me to tears at times. But he's a legend no doubt about it, away wins in Australia, India and South Africa and 4 Ashes wins. Yet he still has his critics, It would have been interesting to see a Tendulkar or Ponting have had to open all their career, most of it in England as well where we don't play on flat tracks constantly.

And again with Jimmy, another legend not always effective abroad but no one better in England. To beat McGrath who's the best pace bowler I've ever seen is crazy, never thought an England player would do it.

Two legends, sadly I doubt we'll see players of their skill for the next 20 or 30 years, that's if we are lucky.