Sir Alastair Nathan Cook is an English former cricketer and former captain of the England Test and One-Day International (ODI) teams. He is considered one of the greatest opening batsmen in test cricket. Cook is the fifth-highest Test run scorer of all time and leading run scorer for England ever. He retired from Test cricket in September 2018 and played for Essex County Cricket Club in English domestic cricket until 2023, while also working for the BBC radio programme Test Match Special, between his commitments for Essex.

Essex County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Essex.