Alastair Cook has been awarded knighthood as part of Queen's New Year's honors list which also included Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas as well as England soccer boss Gareth Southgate and his skipper Harry Kane.

The former England captain, who retired from the game earlier this year at the end of the Oval Test against India, is not only country's most capped but highest run-getter in Test match cricket as well. He has been rightfully and deservingly recognized for his sporting excellence. 

Cook with 12, 742 runs at 45.4 including 33 Test centuries across 161 Tests became the first cricketer to be knighted since legendary all-rounder Ian Botham in 2007 was bestowed with the prestige for his achievements. 

Even as a skipper Cook led England successfully to historic Test series triumphs in Australia(2010-11), India(2012) and South Africa(2015-16), as well as memorable Ashes, wins at home in 2013 and 2015.

The 34-year-old finished his career with an outstanding hundred against Virat Kohli's men in front of a packed crowd in London, as he declared later that there was basically "nothing left in the tank."

“It’s a fitting tribute to a man who has led with distinction on and off the pitch ever since he made his England debut,” England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) chairman Colin Graves said in a statement to Press Association Sport on Saturday, December 29. 

(Inputs from AFP)