Sir Alastair Cook eyes playing on for Essex past last year of his deal

Sir Alastair Cook eyes playing on for Essex beyond this season after ‘bucket list’ County Championship victory and Bob Willis Trophy triumph leave 36-year-old England legend wanting more

• Sir Alastair Cook, 36, has had plenty of success at Essex after his England days 
• Cook bowed out of the Test arena with a magnificent century against India
• He is in the last year of his Essex deal but is hopeful of playing past this season 

Sir Alastair Cook is enjoying life back in the ranks at Essex so much he is preparing to play on beyond this summer’s final year of his contract.

England’s record run-scorer signed a new three-year deal with his county after he had finished his 161-Test career with a century in his final match against India at the Oval at the end of 2018.

Now, after playing a leading role in Essex’s County Championship success in 2019 and their Bob Willis Trophy triumph last year, he goes into this year’s new conference championship next week with his hunger for runs unsated.

Sir Alastair Cook has been relishing life back in the ranks with Essex and described their County Championship title victory in 2019 as a bucket list achievement 

The silverware kept coming as Essex won the Bob Willis Trophy in last year’s campaign

‘I’ve enjoyed being at Essex without the real scrutiny and pressure of playing international cricket,’ said Cook. ‘In county cricket you do go back to basics in one sense, to batting and catching and remembering why you played sport in the first place.

‘I am in limbo to an extent because in three months time I could be sitting here thinking: “Do you know what? It’s time for someone else to have my place.’

‘But while I’ve still got the support of Essex and my family and if the ball is still hitting the middle of my bat more often than my pad I’ll continue.’

The former England captain realised a big ambition when he guided Essex to the title in a nail-biting decider against Somerset. 

‘I had sat down with Chris Silverwood at Chelmsford and told him winning the championship was top of my bucket list,’ he said.

‘I was part of the 2017 title win with Essex but I didn’t play the whole season. So to do that in the first year after I stopped with England was brilliant.

‘The motivation to do well is still there because I don’t want to disgrace myself. I don’t want to look stupid. And there’s still no better feeling than scoring runs.’

Cook bowed out the England scene with a century in his last Test at The Oval against India

Cook says the prospect of once again playing in front of fans is driving him on in his cricket

Cook, 36, says a big reason to carry on is to once again play in front of crowds after the ‘different’ experience of winning the Bob Willis Trophy behind closed doors, again against Somerset, at Lord’s. 

‘You can’t buy an experience like walking out at the MCG in front of a full house,’ he added. ‘And we really missed playing in front of Essex crowds last year. 

‘I think we’ll really notice it as players when fans are back and appreciate it as well.’

Share this article

Source: Read Full Article