Alastair Cook retires: Career in pictures

Cook played only 4 T20Is for England

He did not feature as frequently in the limited-overs format and was snubbed for the World T20 in 2007. The progress from there on wasn't easy as he received increasing criticism about his inability to convert fifties into three figures. He did not score another Test century until 2009.

Cook after his century against South Africa in 2009

His form started to return against the West Indies in 2009, and a well-constructed century in South Africa against an attack comprising of Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel, highlighted how well-rounded his game was.

Cook in action as Kamran Akmal and Yasir Hameed look on

In an infamous series against Pakistan, marred by clouds of spot-fixing, Cook stood tall after enduring a summer averaging 13. The Ashes followed, and Cook's form and technique carried big question marks along when he assembled a brilliant 110 in a game where none of the other batsmen could pass more than 36. They lost by four wickets but found a one-man army to fight bigger battles in the future.