Alastair Cook extends contract with Essex, signs two-year deal

Legendary English cricketer Alastair Cook has signed a two-year contract extension with the Essex County Cricket Club until the end of the 2023 season, the club announced on Wednesday. The English cricketer is hailed as one of the greatest batsmen ever to play for England. During his international cricket career, he made 161 Test appearances and scored 12,472 runs at an average of 45.35.

He is currently England’s highest run-scorer with 12,472 runs to his name. Besides, he has also played the most number of Tests for England as captain and has scored the most number of Test centuries for his country.

Alastair Cook took his retirement from international cricket in 2018. He played his last international match against India and scored a hundred in that Test, which helped England win the fifth and final Test by 118 runs. Since his retirement, he has played an instrumental role in helping Essex reach great heights in domestic cricket. He has been a consistent run-scorer for the club and also helped them secure the 2019 County Championship title, the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy and the 2021 Division Two title.

Upon signing his contract extension, Cook said: “I have really enjoyed my cricket here at Essex since my international retirement. We are lucky to have a fantastic dressing room and great coaching staff, led brilliantly by Anthony McGrath, and I’m looking forward to what hopefully will be another successful couple of years.”

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, commented: “It’s great news that Cooky has committed his future to the club. Alastair is still one of the best batters in the world and he’s so important for us both on and off the field. He can take the game away from the opponents in both red-ball and white-ball cricket, and that’s something every head coach wants in their team.”