Cook steps down as England captain

England will have a new leader at the helm for next summer’s Ashes series after Alastair Cook today stepped down from the captaincy. 

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed they’d accepeted Cook’s resignation as Test captain, ending his 59-Test, four-and-a-half-year reign.

The 32-year-old will continue to play as a specialist batsman in the Test side.

The ECB confirmed that they’ve begun the process to appoint Cook’s successor and England’s 80th Test skipper, with vice-captain Joe Root expected to take over.

Cook finishes with the most Test matches as an England skipper and led the Three Lions to two home Ashes series triumphs over Australia in 2013 and 2015.

"It’s been a huge honour to be England captain and to lead the Test team over the past five years," Cook said in a statement.

"Stepping down has been an incredibly hard decision but I know this is the correct decision for me and at the right time for the team.

"I’ve had time to reflect after the India series and this weekend I spoke to Colin Graves, the (ECB) Chairman, to explain and offer my resignation.

"It’s a sad day personally in many ways but I want to thank everyone I’ve captained, all the coaches and support staff and, of course, the England supporters and the Barmy Army who follow us home and away and have given us unwavering support.

"Playing for England really is a privilege and I hope to carry on as a Test player, making a full contribution and helping the next England captain and the team however I can."

With 11,057 runs at 46.45, Cook is England’s all-time highest Test run-scorer and currently sits 10th on the overall leading run-scorers list. 

The left-hander moved past former Australia captain Steve Waugh into the top-10 on England’s recent tour of India and is now just 118 runs away from going past Allan Border’s mark of 11,174 runs.

England's next Test assignment isn't until July, when they'll take on South Africa in four Tests at home before hosting the West Indies in a three-Test series.

ECB’s director of cricket and Cook's predecessor as Test skipper Andrew Strauss, praised the 140-Test veteran and explained the next steps in appointing his replacement.

"I want to thank Alastair, on behalf of the ECB and from a personal perspective, for the fantastic contribution that he’s made to the England Test team since taking over as captain in 2012," Strauss said.

"His country owes him a great debt of gratitude; he's led the team with determination, conviction and a huge amount of pride over the last five years and his record stands for itself.

"With more matches leading the team than anyone, including two Ashes wins, he deserves to be seen as one of our country's great captains.

Strauss said while the ECB had yet to speak to any of the candidates to succeed Cook in the role, the next Test captain will be announced before England's one-day international squad embarks on their tour of the Caribbean later this month.

"There are a number of established players who are playing formal or informal leadership roles and whilst we've rightly not spoken to anyone in relation to the Test captaincy so far, we can now talk fully and openly within the team," he said.

"We expect to be able to make an announcement before the team head to the West Indies on 22nd February."

In December, England’s Australian coach Trevor Bayliss backed Cook to play on to the 2017-18 Ashes.

"He's talking about the next Ashes series and being out in Australia," Bayliss told the BBC.

"He's certainly up for the fight. I haven't had any discussion with him any other way and that's what we've been working towards.