Alastair Cook is in line for a knighthood according to reports in The Times.

The former England captain retired in style in the last Test of the summer against India at the Oval by scoring a memorable hundred, his 33rdof his career.

That hundred came in the last of his 161 Tests – only six players have played more. Cook ended his Test career as the highest run-scoring Englishman, highest run-scoring opener and highest scoring left-hander in the history of the game.

He also captained England for a record 59 Tests and led England to two Ashes series wins as well as a memorable series win in India in 2012, their first there in 28 years.

Cook, who turns 34 on Christmas Day, is set to continue playng for his county side Essex following his retirement from international cricket. He signed a three-year extension to his contract at the end of the 2018 season.

Cook would be the first cricketer to be knighted since Ian Botham was bestowed with the honour in 2007.