Huge boots to fill - Cook

New England Test captain Alastair Cook has said he has "huge boots to fill" following Andrew Strauss' retirement from the game.

The left-handed opener is already the captain of England's ODI side and will now take the reins of the Test team after Strauss announced his retirement from professional cricket at Lord's. The 27-year-old Cook, who has long been tipped to captain England in Test cricket, will take the side to India this winter for his first challenge as the new skipper. "I'm incredibly proud to be sitting here now as captain of England. It's a huge honour. I'm very excited about the challenge," said the Essex player. "I've got huge boots to fill, following Straussy who has done an incredible job." Cook averages 47.84 in Test cricket and has scored 6,555 runs, including 20 centuries. One of his first decisions will be whether to recall out-of-favour Kevin Pietersen, who has been involved with a spat in the England camp this summer that led to the South African-born batsman being dropped.