XtraTime Web Desk: Ahead of the final test former England captain Alastair Cook was thinking of stepping down as he told national selector Ed Smith that he would have no problem if the selectors want him out of the playing XI after his poor show in the series till the fourth test. Beside that he also told Smith that he was available to play one final game, if selected, before retiring from international cricket.
And when Smith, who has made a very good impression in his first summer as national selector, asked Cook if he still had the fight to play another Test match, Cook replied that he did. At that point, Smith told him he would play.
The conversation took place not long after Cook had announced his retirement following the conclusion of the fourth Test in Southampton. At that point, he had made 109 runs against India at an average of 15, and later admitted he had lost his ‘edge’.
Instead, Cook responded with 71 in the first innings at The Oval, his highest Test score of 2018, before surpassing that with 147 in the second.
Rory Burns, Joe Denly and James Vince are all in contention to take part in November’s three-Test series in Sri Lanka, with Keaton Jennings — who averaged 18 against India — expected to hold on to his place.