Alastair Cook, who is playing his 161st and final Test match, decided to make the event more special by emulating his debut against India in 2006.
After scoring a fifty in the first innings of the fifth Test at the Oval, Cook carried on in the second innings to score a magnificent century in the second and final innings of his Test career. England also helped themselves to a healthy lead thanks to Joe Root and Cook’s partnership.
The crowd at the Oval stood up and applauded Alastair Cook as he joined a select list of players who scored a century on their debut and in their last match- Mohammed Azharuddin (IND), Greg Chappell (AUS), Reginald Duff (AUS) and Bill Ponsford (AUS).
The applause for Cook went on for a long time.
Twitter too paid tribute to Cook’s brilliant ton and we have some of the best tweets for you.
Check them out:
Yes chef ????????
— Jofra Archer (@craig_arch) September 10, 2018
Fairytales do exist....what a farewell. Well played, Cook. Well played. #EngvInd #Respect #Legend
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 10, 2018
Alistair Cook ???? in last Test match ???? ???? #Swansong
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) September 10, 2018
A century in your last innings. And an ovation that looked like it would never end. It was, as Joe Root said, "written in the stars". What a moment for the mighty Alastair Cook.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 10, 2018
What a way to say goodbye...test ???? No 33 for Alastair Cook, richly deserved! #topclass #Congratulations
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) September 10, 2018
What a way to finish off the your last batting innings. Congratulations on a glittering career Alistair. #ENGvIND
— R P Singh (@rpsingh) September 10, 2018
The Chef is cooking! Congratulations brother, very well deserved. ???????????????? #Eagles
— Peter Siddle (@petersiddle403) September 10, 2018
That was a very very special moment ... All of us who are privileged to be here today will remember that forever ... #Cook #100 ... If any person deserves that send off it’s Alastair ... Fairytales do happen ...
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 10, 2018
What a player..!!!!! Huge Respect for u brother...privileged to play against you...finish like a Champ ???????? pic.twitter.com/NtBRHdS3C6
— Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) September 10, 2018
100 in the final innings could not have happened to a more deserving batsman. ????????????????????????#AlastairCook
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 10, 2018