Cook 'choked back tears' when telling England team about retirement

Cook had little bother controlling emotions at his farewell press conference, but it was a tearful tale when he first broke it to team-mates Credit: PA

Alastair Cook had little bother controlling emotions at his farewell press conference, but it was a tearful tale when he first broke it to team-mates that The Oval Test will be his last.

Only a timely quip from all-rounder Moeen Ali, and a few beers, stopped him welling up in the dressing room after Sunday's series-sealing victory over India in Southampton.

As England bid to close out a 4-1 scoreline in their all-time record runscorer's 161st Test, Cook hopes for a send-off in keeping with his prolific career rather than the meagre returns of late which have persuaded him to call time.

It is two days since he told the world of his international retirement, in a prepared statement, but equally fresh in his mind is the moment he needed to address his team-mates on the same matter.

"I was a couple of beers in - which I needed to be - otherwise, I would have cried more than I actually did," said the 33-year-old opener.

"I managed to hold it together. I just said 'this might be good news for some and sad for others, but it's time - I've done my bit, and if picked the next game will be my last one.'

"There was a bit of silence, Mo said something, we all laughed - and everyone got on with it."