Nearly two months after India thrashed England 4-0 in a five-match Test series, the captain of the English Test team, Alastair Cook, has stepped down from the post, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said today.
"His resignation has been accepted, the Board have been informed and the proper process has started to appoint the next test captain," the ECB said in a statement.
The board further said that it is considering Joe Root as Cook’s successor.
Appointed as the Test captain in 2012, the 32-year-old Essex batsman led England in record 59 Tests. The English team had won two Ashes series at home in 2013 and 2015 under him. Cook also led England to series wins in India and South Africa.
"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," said Cook.
"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.
Overall, Cook has played 140 Test matches and is England’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 11,057 runs. He also holds the record of maximum 30 centuries by an English batsman in the longest format of the game.
England is led by Eoin Morgan in the limited overs format.
