Everyone at The Oval stood up to applaud Alastair Cook, one off cricket’s all-time genius, last Tuesday, at the end of the fifth Test against India.

The left-handed star batsman has left a huge void to fill. In his momentous career he piled up 12,472 runs at an average of 45.35, the fifth highest run getter in Test cricket. In his illustrious career, he took 173 catches -- the sixth highest -- being one of the greatest slip fielders.

He was the youngest man to reach 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 11000, and 12000 runs. At one time he was considered capable of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar in terms of runs. He sits on top of the throne of England’s batting loyalty being their highest-run getter. He also scored the highest number of centuries for England, 32 in 160 matches.

He made his debut against India in 2006 at Nagpur and scored 60 and 104 not out which helped England save the Test against the formidable spin attack of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. He scored runs heavily almost everywhere, but he rates his Ashes series performance in 2010-11 summer the highest as he scored 756 runs with three centuries, including 235 not out at the Gabba. The 2012 Test series win over India was also special as he scored three consecutive centuries. It was the pinnacle of his stellar career. His retirement was pretty much on the cards because of the torrid times he was going through with the bat as well as in the slips, especially when he dropped catches against Pakistan at Lord’s. Before the final Test against India, he averaged only 18 this year.

Announcing the retirement, he said he would continue to play for Essex. Since then tributes have been pouring with former stars Micheal Atherton and Naseer Hussain calling him the greatest England batsman.

His love affair with the subcontinent was enduring. He was prolific whenever he visited this spin-friendly region. He sits on the top of the throne of non-Asian players with great records in Asia. He scored nine centuries in 28 Tests in this region, scoring 2710 runs at an average of 53.14.

His most memorable performances in this region include his six-hour, match-saving knock in Galle and a 190 in Kolkata when England from behind to win the Test. The most stand-out innings must be his marathon 263 against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in 2015. It was the third longest inning in the history of Test cricket in terms of minutes, lasting 836 minutes.

India remained his cherished opposition against whom he scored 294 at Edgbaston in 2011.

When he succeeded Andrew Strauss as England’s Test captain in 2013, he won the Ashes 3-0 but his captaincy tenure went through many highs and lows. The lowest point came after a 5-0 bashing by the Aussies in 2013-14 in Australia.

After that they were defeated 1-0 by Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka’s first-ever Test series win in England).

And in the next series they lost at Lord’s against India but came back and won the series 3-1. He captained England for a record 59 matches, wining 24, with Ashes series wins in 2013 and 2015 (both in England).

But a lost Test to Bangladesh and 4-0 whipping in India made him call time upon his captaincy career.

In 2011 he was named the Test player of the year. In 2012 he was named one of 5 Wisden cricketers of the year.

But this prolific scorer never dominated one-day cricket. In 92 matches, he scored 3,204 runs at an average of 36.40, with five centuries.

He scored two double tons on the rocky surfaces of Australia, a place where batsmen fall prey to extraordinary bounce and pace.