You can't be a captain with 95 % commitment, admits Cook

Alastair Cook, who recently stepped down as England's Test captain, has admitted that being a skipper requires a 100 percent from a person while was left drained after a tough winter campaign in the subcontinent.

Cook on Monday stepped down as England's Test captain after a record 59 matches in charge. His recent tour of the subcontinent, which included a maiden Test defeat against Bangladesh, culminated with a 0-4 loss in the five-Test series against India.

"It was an incredibly tough decision to make," ESPNcricinfo quoted Cook as saying. "I've loved every minute as England captain, but it's a job you have to commit 100 percent to, and there've been certain times throughout my four or five years in the job when I've been to the well and dug pretty deep."

"And coming back from India, the way I felt then, I didn't think I had it in me to do it again, because this isn't a job where you can operate at 95 percent," he added.

The England opener further said that he felt it was the time to quit from the position when he looked in the mirror.

"It was sad in one way, because I've loved the honour and prestige of all of it. I've been leading some great men and had some great moments as England captain, but I do think it's the right time for me and for the team."

Cook, who was appointed as the captain in August 2012, is England's most capped Test skipper so far, having led the side to Ashes victories at home in 2013 and 2015 as well as series wins in India and South Africa.

"It is a challenging job, you don't know what will be thrown at you at certain times. But I have loved it, and that is what has made the decision quite hard, because I knew what I was giving away. I look forward to the next part of my career, supporting the next guy as best I can, and hopefully scoring some runs as well and being part of England's success," the left-hander said.

The opening batsman, who is England's most prolific Test batsman with 11,057 runs in 140 matches till date, also led the one-day side for 69 matches between 2010 and 2014, which is another England record.