When Alastair Cook leads England out in Chittagong for the first of two Tests against Bangladesh, he will become his country’s most-capped player.
134 times he will have stepped out, one more than the previous incumbent, Alec Stewart, and 35 more than the next highest among his teammates for this Test who, if it makes any difference, is the Brisbane Courier Mail’s favourite sportsman, Stuart Broad.
Given his enviable fitness record, the fact he is still just 31, and England’s relatively heavy schedule, there is every chance the Essex opener could become the most capped Test player of all time.
Of course, reaching such a milestone would only happen a few years down the line and Cook might decide to call it a day much sooner than that but, nevertheless, he hasn’t indicated the pipe and slippers are being prepared quite yet.
It’s fairly safe to say Cook will be prodding and cutting about for some time to come.
A few weeks ago, this author wrote of Chris Rogers’ retirement and how it was a link to a more sedate past being extinguished.
Change or progress – it depends on how you look at it – has altered cricket markedly over the past decade or so and, while Test cricket hasn’t faded from the public’s consciousness altogether, those who exclusively fly the five-day game’s flag are, sure as eggs are eggs, going the same way as the dodo.
A quick question: of all the world’s premier international cricketers, how many only play Tests without any hope, chance or opportunity of appearing in coloured clothing?
I certainly couldn’t think of too many (feel free to enlighten me) and it just goes to show the pool is an ever decreasing one.
You could argue this isn’t necessarily a good thing, and the purist in me would definitely lean towards this direction of thought, but things do change and the primacy of Test cricket, even in this part of the world, is eroding.
When there is talk of altering the international schedule to accommodate a new Twenty20 tournament, the kind of thing that would’ve been considered almost treacherous not so long ago, you know the candle is flickering and the breeze is increasing in intensity.
For that reason, we should treasure the Test specialist while he is still here and from an English perspective, Cook is worth his weight in gold.
He may not be everybody’s cup of tea with a functional batting style that has never been aesthetically pleasing and a method of captaincy that isn’t gung-ho enough for many, but I doubt he really cares too much.
He’s had a handful of rough patches and lesser men would’ve given up the ghost a while back, especially after the Ashes debacle of 2013-14 when he was squarely in the sights of anyone with a spleen to vent and an opinion, worthy or not, to shout, but he’s a stubborn soul and had he departed it would’ve been to the detriment of the side he still leads.
It isn’t pushing the boat out to suggest Cook won’t be remembered as his nation’s finest captain, however well his record stacks up, but as an opening batsman he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Graham Gooch, Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaughan, to name a trio that immediately springs to mind.
You can debate the merits of cricketers and the strength of the eras in which they performed until the cows come home, but until a definitive way of comparing them exists, we’ll have to make do with what we’ve got.
And what we have is a tally a fraction shy of 10,600 runs (before the current Test anyway) at an average in excess of 47 with 29 centuries.
They are decent figures by any standards and, given the way he was playing last summer, there should be a few more on the horizon.
If England are to continue towards their stated desire of becoming the number one side in the world, and I’ll be reserving judgement until after five Tests in India without a spinner worthy of the name, then Cook has a significant part to play.
Nobody is irreplaceable, however good they may be, but among modern-day English opening batsmen, Cook is as close as it gets. That’s not a bad line for the CV.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Do you have anything positive to say Nudge or do you just post to ridicule people? Try putting your neck on the line and actually adding to the conversation - it's not about being right or wrong, it's about discussing the sport. I acknowledged Ronan's point and then responded that I don't consider recent tour wins in South Africa to be of the same class. Get off my case.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Kohli is way too loose meaning he will always be found out
David a Pom
Guest
Cook the best test batsman currently. But of the new, younger generation, in my opinion it's a race between our Root and Kohli. I know Kohli doesn't have the numbers in test cricket yet, but there's just this something about him...
Nudge
Guest
Geez bush you get found out and then you scramble really hard. If you get it wrong, or you forgot a particular series just put your hand up, you won't look as silly
Timbo
Guest
Any judgment about Cook has to include the fact that he's an opener who plays half his tests in England. Opening the batting in England is like being a seamer in India. Ronan continually suggests that Anderson's record is 'padded' because of helpful English conditions. Presumably, therefore, Cook's record is even more notable given he's an opening batsmen. You can't have it both ways - or at least you should lose all credibility if you try to.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Ronan, Fair enough, as I said, both sides have a good argument. Some thoughts though, you've pointed out that Smith was not in fact the dominant batsman in that 2014 series - Warner was - and secondly, England's recent win in South Africa isn't in the class of their wins in Australia in 2010/11 and in India in 2012 (in my opinion). The current version of the South African side just isn't that impressive and I just don't consider touring South Africa to be as challenging as touring England, Australia or India. In any event, considering I'm fence sitting a little, I haven't got anything else to ad, I'm a big fan of the current crop and hope they fulfil their potentials.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"The fact is that right now none of Williamson, Smith, Kholi or Root can say they’ve dominated an away series and lead their teams to famous wins." Root and Smith have both been sensational in series wins in South Africa - Root averaging 55 last summer as Eng beat the Proteas and Smith averaging 67 in 2014 (best average for series from either side after Warner). Smith helped set up that series win for Australia with a wonderful hundred in the first innings of the 1st Test, saving Australia after they had slumped to 4-98.
The Bush
Roar Guru
You've both got good points, and neither is wrong. Context is certainly important. While Smith has certainly got great statistics and compared to the line up of hometown heroes Australia current fields (enter David Warner), Smith is easily our best away batsman. But as you say Tim, until he scores centuries in live away series and these result in series wins, I don't think you can put him in Cook's class. Cook's batting has carried his team to away wins in Australia and India, the two hardest touring venues in the world. What other current playing batsman can say that? True champions are remember for their feats when it mattered. Legends are made in live series like Waugh v Ambrose in '95. No century, but that changed the course of cricket history. Smith's century in the third test of the Sri Lankan series flatters his average, it won't be remember next year, let alone 20 years later. The fact is that right now none of Williamson, Smith, Kholi or Root can say they've dominated an away series and lead their teams to famous wins. Time is certainly on all their sides though.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Individuals measure facts in different manners, you are one that obviously embraces statistics as your guide, I pay attention to them but view them also as misleading and needing context attached. Another example is you are a vocal supporter of Mitch marsh despite his figures conclusively showing he is an imposter at test level Smith is a good player no doubt, but has had his figures inflated by a few cheapies. Even his hundred in SL that saved his blushes was benefitted by a stricken Herath. i remember you diminishing Williamson accomplishments in an article by claiming he got runs on flat pitches, notably in Australia last year. i think you should be consistent and look at Smith's scores and the circumstances he got them in as the recent SL example shows I classify Smith in the same category as Kohli, with an asterisk against both of their calibre
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Smith- Needs the pitch in his favour". Yet Smith is the only batsman to average 40+ in every country he has played Test cricket (out of all of the current top 15 ranked Test batsmen). Smith has a career average of 59 despite the significant disadvantage of having played 50% more Tests away from home than at home (26 Tests away, 18 at home). Smith has 2349 runs at 53 away from home in Tests. I appreciate we all are entitled to an opinion Tim, but the facts certainly aren't on your side here.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Temperament.....he might not have the inflated figures of others but you have to get Cook out The other lauded batsmen in this age always give you a chance, often taking undue risks. I know you are a massive fan of Smith, but his dismissal in SL where he suicidally ran down the pitch, particularly at the time of the game he did it was one of the most outrageously dumb thing I have seen, and I viewed my first match in 1966. The only others I have real respect for is YK, Amla and AB Devilliers. I used to laud Williamson but I tend to agree with your slight against him that he has been found out a few times lately. Still a beautiful player in the Cook mindset Kohli- supremely overrated Root- very good but still a tad reckless. When he fully tightens his game and avoids get out shots he will be a 55 average player, very complete in all confines and still very young Smith- Needs the pitch in his favour, still a fine player but gets a lot of cheapies
Custard Cream
Guest
Ronan, I think everyone struggles against quality pace! Even Bradman only averaged 58 in 32-3.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"I would still take Cook ahead of any other batsman in test cricket." Depends on the conditions. Cook is a freakishly good player in Asia, without doubt the best batsman against spin in those conditions of non-Asian Test batsman. But Cook struggles against quality pace, as evidenced his poor records against South Africa and Australia, who have had the best pace attacks over the course of his career. Cook averages just 35 in his 15 Tests against SA. Against Australia his average of 39 is inflated by one amazing series when he averaged 127 - in his other 25 Ashes Tests he has averaged just 28.
JimmyB
Guest
Vaughan an opening batsman?
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I would still take Cook ahead of any other batsman in test cricket And before I am accused of 'bias', I am Irish from Derry, we have scant love for English
David a Pom
Guest
The greatest opener since Sunny Gavaskar.
Frederick the Englishman
Guest
A prince among men.