England fans will have to wait to again see Alastair Cook in action as the recently retired England opener has decided to give the remaining two County Championship matches for Essex a miss.
Cook played his last Test match at The Oval, in which he was adjudged the Player of the Match for his knocks of 71 and 147 in the first and second innings to help England win the match by 118 runs and with that capture the series 4-1 against India. England’s all-time highest run-scorer was supposed to continue playing first-class cricket for Essex but it seems the five-match Test series has left him tired both physically and mentally.
Cook has signed a three-year deal with Essex starting this year but with him opting out of the County Championships, there is a slim chance of Cook returning to the cricket field this year.
Along with Cook, several other English Test cricketers have decided against playing the remaining County matches after the gruelling five-match Test series against India. Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes will also miss their respective County's remaining Championship matches.
England’s revelation Sam Curran and young top-order batsman Ollie Pope meanwhile will turn up for Surrey and players like Jos Buttler, James Anderson and Keaton Jennings will play for Lancashire Lightning in the T20 Blast Finals Day