Alastair Cook has stepped down from his role after 59 Tests as England Test captain. 

Appointed in August 2012, Cook has led the team through more Test matches than any other England captain. His record includes Ashes victories at home in 2013 and 2015 as well as series wins in India and South Africa.

He also led the one-day side for 69 one-day internationals between 2010 and 2014, another England record, reports ecb.co.uk.

Cook, however, has confirmed the Chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board, Colin Graves, and to Director of England Cricket, Andrew Strauss, about his continuing commitment to playing Test cricket.

His resignation has been accepted, the Board has been informed and the proper process has started to appoint the next Test captain - the 80th in England’s Test match history. 

The 32-year old opening batsman is England’s most capped Test captain, has scored more Test centuries than any previous captain and is England’s most prolific Test batsman with 11,057 runs in 140 Tests to date.

During his five seasons at the helm he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year [2012] and ICC World Test Captain [2013] and his services to the game were recognized with a CBE – collected at Buckingham Palace last Friday – to follow the MBE he was awarded in 2011. 

Confirming his decision, Alastair Cook said: “It’s been a huge honor to be England captain and to lead the Test team over the past five years.

“Stepping down has been an incredibly hard decision but I know this is the correct decision for me and at the right time for the team.”

Andrew Strauss thanked Cook on behalf of the ECB saying: “His country owes him a great debt of gratitude; he's led the team with determination, conviction and a huge amount of pride over the last five years and his record stands for itself.”

“With more matches leading the team than anyone, including two Ashes wins, he deserves to be seen as one of our country’s great captains,” he added. 

He also expected to be able to choose new test captain before the team head to the West Indies on February 22.

ECB Chairman Colin Graves said: “His leadership has brought some huge successes for the England team and even in difficult times he has always shown his character, stayed composed and seen things through.

“Of course, as a batsman, he’s one of the all-time greats. We owe him our gratitude, thank him for his commitment to England and look forward to watching him score plenty more runs for England.”

BDST: 1647 HRS, FEB 06, 2017
SR