Alastair Cook steps down as England Test captain
England's batsman Alastair Cook stepped down as Test captain with immediate effect on 6 February.
England and Wales Cricket Board on Monday announced that Cook has resigned from the post of Test captaincy.
Cook conveyed his decision to the ECB chairman Colin Graves on 5 February. He has told the board that he will be available for selection as a player.
Alastair Cook has stepped down from his role after 59 Tests as England Test captainhttps://t.co/khZOeoG5rn pic.twitter.com/ADJxJpafXk
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 6, 2017
"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," the Telegraph quoted Cook as saying.
According to the media reports, ECB has begun the process of selecting a new captain and Joe Root is likely to be the next skipper.
Cook has led England in 59 Test matches. England has won two Ashes series on home soil in 2013 and 2015 under his captaincy.
First published: 6 February 2017, 3:34 IST
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