Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook has made an excellent start to the new County Championship season, notching his 70th first class hundred in Essex's game against Kent.
Cook's century came off 262 balls and saw him share a brilliant 220-run opening partnership with Nick Browne. And his brilliant innings has prompted some fans to call for him to come out of international retirement this summer in a bid to help solve England 's Test match woes at the top of the order.
The 37-year-old memorably called time on his international career back in 2018, signing off with a memorable century in his final game against India at the Oval. Cook is England's all-time leading run scorer, having made 12,472 runs and 33 centuries across 161 Test matches.
Despite his international retirement, Cook has continued to play county cricket for Essex and signed a new one-year extension ahead of this season. And given England's own struggles in Test cricket, many supporters believe he would still be one of their best batter.
"Beg him to come out of retirement", wrote one fan following Cook's hundred. "Please come out of retirement. Your country needs you," added another.
"Simply the GOAT as much as I love seeing him in an Essex shirt, there's a gaping hole at the top of the England order," wrote a third. While another added: "England looking for an opener Cooky best we have get him out of retirement".
"One last dance with England, I beg", a fifth supporter wrote. While another fan joked: "70th FC 100. This lad looks decent, could he get England out of the mire ?"
Speaking ahead of the season, Cook explained why he had committed to another season with Essex, admitting he simply 'enjoys turning up'. "I never planned to do three years," he said.
"But then Covid came along and it didn't feel right, and then last year was a conference system and again it didn't feel right. It's a big commitment to do it with what goes on in the other parts of my life, but I genuinely enjoy turning up, and when you feel you can be competitive you might as well carry on."
