London: Former England skipper Alastair Cook was knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace here Tuesday for his services to cricket.
The 34-year-old became the first English cricketer to receive the Knighthood since Sir Ian Botham in 2007. Cook also earned the distinction of becoming the first active cricketer (England’s former captain still plays for Essex) to receive the honour since New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee in 1990.
Speaking after the ceremony, Cook admitted that this was something that would take some time to get used to.
“Seeing my name up there in whatever capacity – you just don’t get used to it,” Cook said. “You never get used to it and I don’t think I will ever get used to seeing my name with a Sir before it.”
Cook conceded that he was just as nervous while kneeling in front of the Queen as batting in a fully packed cricket stadium.
“It is just weird, when you are told you have to just walk and kneel, that you should get so nervous,” he said. “I have played cricket in front of many thousands and done okay but you get just as nervous just walking and kneeling, which is very strange.”
England’s leading run scorer and most capped player, Cook retired from Test cricket following the five-match series against India in September, 2018.
Agencies