• Cook set for knighthood

    Former England captain Alastair Cook will be knighted later this year.

    Cook will become the first England cricketer to receive the honour since ex-skipper Ian Botham in 2007.

    ‘It is not just that Alastair Cook is unquestionably the best batsman England have produced in recent years, but that he can make a massive contribution as an ambassador for cricket at home and abroad,’ the Metro quoted Lord Andrew Tyrie as saying last month.

    ‘Nobody could be more deserving.’

    Cook has also been shortlisted for the Greatest Sporting Moment of 2018 accolade at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

    He has been nominated for the century he struck in his final Test innings against Pakistan at The Oval in London in September. He announced his retirement from international cricket prior to the fixture.

    The other BBC Sports Personality of the Year award nominees are:

    England’s penalty-shootout victory over Colombia at the football World Cup.

    England’s Commonwealth Games gold medal win in netball, after a late goal from Helen Housby, to beat host nation Australia.

    Tiger Woods ending a five-year wait for a win on the PGA Tour. He won the Tour Championship trophy in the finale to the FedEx Cup.

    Tyson Fury’s return from two knockdowns to draw with Deontay Wilder in last week’s WBC heavyweight fight in Los Angeles.

    Photo: Getty

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