Alastair Cook to play for Essex in the final two County Championship matches

Prolific England batsman, Alastair Cook will be participating in the final two games of the County Championship for his side, Essex. Earlier, he had opted to sit out the round against Warwickshire after having played for the national side in two consecutive Test series’. The news of his inclusion was announced by the club on Wednesday (September 13).

Cook, on his part, has continued to remain as brilliant a batsman as ever. The southpaw featured in England’s back-to-back Test victories against South Africa and West Indies. It was in the first Test against West Indies that he played a spectacular inning of 243 runs, making it the fourth double ton of his career.

Essex Head Coach confirms Cook’s availability

Essex Head Coach, Silverwood addressed Cook’s inclusion into the side for the last two matches and said, “Obviously it is always a massive bonus to get a player of Alastair’s calibre back into the squad and around the group. He made a massive difference earlier in the season and helped set us on the path we have been on. Hopefully now he can come back and help us achieve the dream of lifting the Division One title.”

32-year-old Cook has been phenomenal for the club, having participated in seven of Essex’s 12 games till now. He has raked up 667 runs in 10 innings, becoming the club’s second-best run-scorer this season. However, Essex doesn’t really seem to be banking on his return in order to clinch the winner’s trophy.

If they’re successful in defeating Warwickshire in their ongoing game and second-ranked Lancashire fail to beat Somerset, Essex will become champions for the first time since 1992, with two games to spare. The former England captain is expected to play against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl next week, followed by the home game against Yorkshire as the last game of the season.