SURREY captain Rory Burns said today that he would welcome the opportunity to replace Alastair Cook at the top of England’s batting order.

Cook announced he would bring the curtain down on a record-breaking international career following the final Test of the series against India, which starts at The Oval on Friday.

Burns is the overwhelming favourite to step into the breach following a fine summer, in which he currently sits at the top of the County Championship Division One run charts.

The 28-year-old, speaking before Surrey’s encounter with Essex at Chelmsford, paid tribute to Cook, saying: “He’s had a great career.

“I don’t think I could do it justice with what I say about him.

“If there’s a spot going there it would be nice but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Cook, who has amassed an unprecedented 12,254 runs in 160 Tests for England, will return to the Essex fold next year.

Captain Ryan ten Doeschate will relish having such a character to call upon.

He said: “Obviously we’ll be delighted to have him around.

“Cricket achievements aside, his humility and his desire for the game and to share his knowledge is truly inspiring for everyone to see.

“It’s great for us, I think he’s still got a lot of cricket in him.

“He’s only 33 and I think a sustained period of cricket and that enjoyment that he still gets from doing well suits him and suits us amazingly well.”