Watch: On Wednesday Alastair Cook turned his arm over in first-class cricket for the first time since 2014, bowling the final over of Essex’s County Championship fixture with Surrey.

With the match petering out towards a draw on the final day at The Oval, Cook brought out his medium pace with legendary South Africa batsman Hashim Amla on strike and with 33 runs to his name.

After one dot ball, Amla bunted a ball into the off side for a single to leave England’s Ollie Pope facing Cook: the batsman defended his first ball, didn’t collect any runs from the next, but then dispatched a full toss for four from the fifth delivery of the over. Another dot followed before players shook hands to call the match a draw.

Earlier in the match Cook had reeled off the 69th first-class century of his career, with Essex piling on 439 in their first innings. After a third-day washout, Surrey were made to follow on on day four after being bowled out for 161. They lost two more wickets before Amla and Pope closed out the Division Two match.

Watch Alastair Cook bowl in the County Championship

 

“So I hear England need an out-and-out quick for the Ashes?”#CountyCricket2021pic.twitter.com/B33urW8Tb6

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 15, 2021

He’s at it again 😅

Chef giving the crowd at The Kia Oval what they want! pic.twitter.com/Iksgrr50BX

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 15, 2021