He said could not have penned the final chapter of his Test career any better after he signed off with a memorable 147 against India at the Oval on Monday. 

Starting the day on 46 not out, the 33-year-old left-hander played with the kind of fluency that has been missing from his game this summer as he reached three figures for the 33rd time to help England score 423-8 declared.

Already his country's most-capped Test player with 161, run maker and century compiler, his final flourish with the bat took him to fifth on the all-time Test runs list with 12,472.

Cook, whose measured batting has propped up England for 12 years, was given numerous standing ovations throughout an unforgettable day for him and the 19,000 fans who crammed into the historic ground to watch his farewell knock.

"You couldn't have scripted it. Today was one of those days when you'll forever look back and think wow. It has just been a great week," Cook, whose pregnant wife and two children were supporting him from the stands, said.