In a heartfelt gesture, the Indian cricket team gave a guard of honour to former England skipper Alastair Cook when he walked out to open the batting in the fifth Test match against India at The Oval on Friday.
The Oval crowd stood up in applause and clapped for their veteran and as he moved forward, Team India players were also waiting for him to arrive. They gave Cook a guard of honour as he thanked them and shook hands with the Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
This gesture from the visiting team is really praiseworthy as they gave him all the respect he deserved.
👏 Cook receives a guard of honour from India's team as he makes his way out onto the pitch at The Oval!
Thank you, Cookie! 🍪
Follow the fifth Test live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event: https://t.co/x5xdV8ROUK #ThankYouChef #PassOnPlastic #EndvInd pic.twitter.com/EGcT2j0IXG
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 7, 2018
Before the start of play, Cook was given his final Test cap by former England captain and current England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman of selectors Andrew Strauss, under whom Cook has played the maximum number of Test matches.
https://twitter.com/Aggerscricket/status/1037992331453054976
Cook, who had a below-par series scoring only 109 runs in four Test matches, announced his retirement after England won the Test series at Southampton with a 60-run victory over the visitors.