Alastair Cook: England's Former Record Holder — 12,472 Test Runs, 33 Centuries, Retired with a Century
Alastair Nathan Cook is an English cricketer born on 25 December 1984 in Gloucester. He is England's second all-time leading Test run-scorer with 12,472 Test runs at 45.35 and 33 Test centuries in 161 Tests — the record at the time of his retirement in September 2018, subsequently surpassed by Joe Root. He is the only England batsman to score 150 or more runs against every Test-playing nation. He made his Test debut against India in Nagpur in March 2006, scoring 60. He famously scored a century in his final Test innings at The Oval in September 2018 vs India. He captained England in 59 Tests (the most of any England captain before Root's 64). He was ICC Test Player of the Year in 2011. He was given a knighthood in 2019 (Sir Alastair Cook).
Alastair Nathan Cook was born on 25 December 1984 in Gloucester. He made his Test debut against India in Nagpur in March 2006, scoring 60 on debut. A left-handed opening batsman, he was renowned for his mental resilience, compact technique, and ability to occupy the crease for long periods in difficult conditions. He became England's full-time Test captain in 2012 following Andrew Strauss's retirement.
12,472 Test Runs and the Final Century
Alastair Cook scored 12,472 Test runs at 45.35 across 161 Tests — setting England's record at the time of his retirement in 2018, subsequently surpassed by Joe Root in 2023. He scored 33 Test centuries and is the only England batsman to score 150 or more against every Test-playing nation. He was ICC Test Player of the Year in 2011. In his final Test at The Oval in September 2018 vs India, he scored 147 in the first innings — a century in his final Test match, one of the most emotionally charged performances in Test cricket history.
Frequently asked questions
What did Alastair Cook do in his final Test match, and when did Joe Root surpass his record?
Alastair Cook scored 147 in the first innings of his final Test match at The Oval against India in September 2018 — a century in his final Test innings. He retired with 12,472 Test runs at 45.35 — England's record at the time. Joe Root surpassed Cook's tally in 2023 to become England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, with Root continuing to add to the record. Cook was knighted in 2019 for services to cricket and was ICC Test Player of the Year in 2011. He captained England in 59 Tests.