XtraTime Web Desk: England’s legendary opening batsman Alastair Cook who is playing his last test match received a guard of honour from the Indian cricket team ahead of the fifth test when he was entering in the field for the final time. All the Indian players stand together and greeted Cook. At the end Cook shook hands with India captain Virat Kohli.
What a reception! ??https://t.co/IroJonUcBW#ThankYouChef #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/DqsOjr5sQ2
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 7, 2018
Ahead of that Cook was presented with a commemorative cap by Andrew Strauss and Colin Graves before his final Test.
England’s all-time record run-scorer, who announced four days ago this fifth Specsavers Test against India will be his last, received his memento after the team huddle on a glorious morning at The Oval.
As a sell-out crowd gathered shortly before the toss, England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Graves and Cook’s former captain and opening partner Strauss were both on hand to do the honours.
ECB director Strauss addressed the England team before handing Cook the cap, numbered 161 to mark the final international match of his record-breaking 12-year career.
Strauss later hailed Cook as England’s greatest Test player.
Strauss told Sky Sports: ‘That average, that consistency, the number of times he’s passed fifty and obviously the hundreds and the match-winning hundreds he’s got, all combine to make him England’s greatest player ever in my opinion.’