Alastair Cook retires: Having played more Tests, scored more runs and notched more centuries than any other, Chef is one of England’s best ever

ALASTAIR COOK has played more Tests, scored more runs and more centuries than any England cricketer in history.

That makes him a very significant sportsman indeed.

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His retirement – he announced on Monday that the Fifth Test against India at the Oval on Friday will be his final international match – brings down the curtain on a career of epic determination, longevity and force of character.

Nobody would claim Cook is a sublimely gifted batsman or a natural athlete.

But he has churned out thousands of runs, 12,254 of them, from the most difficult place in the batting order – as an opener against the new ball.

He has been immensely brave and injury-free. Cook has relied on three prime shots – the square cut, the pull and the clip off his legs.

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And his ferocious desire and work ethic has seen him remain at the top since scoring a century on his Test debut against India in 2006.

Cook is not the best mover. His former team-mate Graeme Swann always reckoned he runs like Woody from Toy Story.

But he has never lost a bleep test or yo-yo test – the so-called "creeping death" physical examinations that stretch endurance, stamina and mental toughness - against another cricketer.

His greatest series was in Australia in 2010-11, when England won the Ashes away from home for the first time in 24 years and Cook piled up 766 runs.

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He also scored three centuries as captain when England had a brilliant, come-from-behind series win in India in 2012.

Cook was not an instinctive tactician but he was loved and respected by his players.

He presided over some terrific series wins – as well as some debilitating defeats – and was stubborn enough to help squeeze Kevin Pietersen out of the England team.

His retirement is not a great surprise.

His output has been diminishing over the past couple of years and his figures over the last 12 months are skewed by two double-centuries, with just one 50 in his last 16 Test innings.

Cook’s wife Alice is about to give birth to their third child.

He enjoys working on his in-laws’ farm, has property interests and, unlike most ex-internationals, might not automatically want to stay in cricket as a pundit or coach.