London: England batting great Alastair Cook said Tuesday that the script of his last Test could not have been written better as he bowed out with a hundred against India here and England won the game by 188 runs.
“Most amazing week, one you could not have scripted. Just been amazing, great to contribute to an England victory, and win the series 4-1. It was also a great game of cricket, to go into the last session of the last day with all four results possible. It was a great advert for Test cricket,” Cook said at the post-match presentation.
“It has been great – moments of happiness as well as sadness. The amount of hard work, the pressure and strain, I won’t miss that. But you miss the highs and the rewards, playing with this team, it will be great to see how they develop. This week can’t be beaten, I can walk away with my head held high,” added England’s highest run-getter.
Cook, who hit a 71 and 147 in the two innings, described James Anderson as England’s best player of all time.
“To see Jimmy pass Glenn McGrath’s record was brilliant. That was the hardest bit, him and Broady (Stuart Broad) are the ones I’ve played the most with, to know I’ll never stand at slip and drop another catch off them is sad. We’ve lived in each other’s pickets for 12 years,” Cook said with a wry smile.
Anderson, on his part, said, “Happy that Cooky was on the field to see that wicket (Mohammed Shami). It’s been a tough week. Thankfully we took the new ball and gave me a chance to get the wicket. Cook has been brilliant, just being there all the time.”
Alastair has been such an exceptional player for a long time. He has been a huge part of our dressing room, we will miss him
Joe Root