LONDON: England batsman Alastair Cook is to retire from international cricket after the fifth test against India at The Oval this week, the 33-year-old said on Monday.

Cook, who will play his 161st test starting on Friday, retires as the sixth highest scorer in test cricket. He has made 12,254 runs including 32 centuries.

"After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India," Cook said in a statement.