Alastair Cook has got it spot on: Twitterati hail England Test captain after decision to step down

Alastair Cook has stepped down as England’s Test captain but plans to carry on as a batsman, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.

“ Stepping down has been an incredibly hard decision but I know this is the correct decision for me and at the right time for the team,” Cook said in a statement. “I’ve had time to reflect after the India series and this weekend I spoke to Colin Graves, the Chairman, to explain and offer my resignation,” England’s most capped Test captain said referring to last year’s 4-0 loss in India.

The 32-year-old has scored more Test centuries than any of his predecessors and is also the country’s most prolific Test batsman with 11,057 runs in 140 matches.

“Playing for England really is a privilege and I hope to carry on as a Test player, making a full contribution and helping the next England captain and the team however I can,” he added.

Let us now take a look at how users on micro-blogging website Twitter, including some well-known members of the English cricket fraternity, wished him on Twitter. Let us start with some of Cook’s team-mates, both current and former:

Thanks Skip! pic.twitter.com/cvw0oZeaPw

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 6, 2017

Kevin Pietersen, who had fallen out of favour with English selectors after Ashes 2013-14, produced perhaps the wittiest tweet of them all. 

So many great memories & achievements with Cooky as captain. I have a lot to thank him for. Looking forward to more playing years with him pic.twitter.com/94uG0sKd5R

— James Anderson (@jimmy9) February 6, 2017

Former captain and team-mate Michael Vaughan praised cook for the timeliness of his decision.

Timing in life is everything .. and once again Alastair Cook has got it spot on .. A Great man who I hope plays on for many more years #Cook

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 6, 2017

Classic tweet from one of cricket’s most well-known statisticians!

Alastair Cook as England Test capt (2010-2016)
Tests: 59
Won: 24
Lost: 22
Drawn: 13
%win: 40.68
Runs 4844
Ave: 46.58
HS:263
100s: 12
50s: 24

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 6, 2017

Let’s not forget the pundits.

If Cook has stepped down because he felt he was no longer enjoying captaincy, he will score many more runs since he will be at peace (more)

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 6, 2017

Even English legends from other sports wished him following the announcement.

Alastair Cook has retired his innings as England cricket captain.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 6, 2017

Alastair Cook - walk tall, stand proud. You rocked it. @englandcricket

— Will Greenwood (@WillGreenwood) February 6, 2017

Home of cricket for a reason

👏 Bravo to Alastair Cook on a long and fruitful reign as @englandcricket captain.

I look forward to seeing plenty more runs from him! pic.twitter.com/PqctZwlAoq

— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) February 6, 2017

Alastair Cook goes. No surprise it happened once white-ball team were back from India. Allowed Joe Root et al to focus on that.

— Simon Mann (@Cricket_Mann) February 6, 2017

Oh, how could we miss Yorkshire?

Congratulations to Alastair Cook on a fine four-year spell as England captain. A record 59 matches in charge, including two Ashes wins 👍 pic.twitter.com/4PQWwbRl7y

— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) February 6, 2017