The first to shake England’s century-maker Alastair Cook’s hand yesterday at the MCG was David Warner. It was a fitting tribute from the Australian vice-captain who made 103 the previous day.
Cook’s unbeaten 104 matched his unbeaten 104 on debut against India at Nagpur 11 years ago.
Yesterday ended his well below par Ashes run of 2, 7, 37, 16, 7 and 14, but why were so many calling for his sacking?
It’s only four months since Cook cracked 243 against the Windies at Edgbaston, and the 33-year-old still has plenty in the tank to support his stellar career stats.
He leads his peers in the most telling of records.
Most caps for England
- Alastair Cook: 151
- James Anderson: 133
- Alec Stewart: 133
- Ian Bell: 118
- Graham Gooch: 118
- David Gower: 117
Most Test runs
- Alastair Cook: 11816
- Graham Gooch: 8900
- Alec Stewart: 8463
- David Gower: 8231
- Kevin Pietersen: 8181
- Geoff Boycott: 8114
Most Test centuries
- Alastair Cook: 32
- Kevin Pietersen: 23
- Walter Hammond: 22
- Colin Cowdrey: 22
- Geoff Boycott: 22
- Ian Bell: 22
Most times captaining England
- Alastair Cook: 59
- Mike Atherton: 54
- Michael Vaughan: 51
- Andrew Strauss: 50
- Nasser Hussain: 45
- Peter May: 41
That’s an impressive list of achievements within the England camp, which begs the question: how does, and will, Alastair Cook rate on the world stage?
(Nick Potts/PA Wire)
So far there are just ten Test batsmen who have cracked the 11000-run barrier, with Cook the only opener. That in itself is no mean feat, constantly facing the new ball in different conditions in different countries.
Indian Suni Gavaskar is the only other Test opening batsman to figure in this category when he became the first to break the 10000-run barrier in 1973.
The ten among the elite
- Sachin Tendulkar: 15921
- Ricky Ponting: 13378
- Jacques Kallis: 13289
- Rahul Dravid: 13288
- Kumar Sangakkara: 12400
- Brian Lara: 11953
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul: 11867
- Alastair Cook: 11816
- Mahela Jayawardene: 11814
- Allan Border: 11174
Currently eighth, Cook has his crosshairs firmly fixed on Chanderpaul, Lara, and Sangakkara to move into fifth spot, but can he catch Tendulkar?
It’s a compulsive comparison. Apart from his obvious outstanding ability, Tendulkar debuted for India at 16, retired at 40 and is the only one in history to play 200 Tests.
It stands to reason with his ability and longevity he should be leading the Test run-getters. He averaged 79.61 runs per Test. Cook is averaging 78.25 a Test, which is knocking on Tendulkar’s door, but the Englishman is still 4105 runs adrift.
At his current rate Cook needs another 52 Tests to catch him, which would take him to a career 203 Tests, just three more than Tendulkar.
Game on.
I ate pies
Guest
I was replying to the comment about his home record. Der. He's still boring no matter where he bats.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Cook also has the highest score by a tourist at the Gabba so don't read too much into I ate pies' little whine.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Exactly 290. By the way I never claimed Cook's innings to be the highest in Australia. That was Gordon Taylor's 290 at the WACA is the best in Australia by a tourist. Foster's 287 at the SCG is next best. Lara's 277 in Sydney also exceeded Cook's score as did Hammond's 251 at the SCG Cook's 244* is the best at the MCG by a tourist. Cook's 235* at the Gabba Dravid's 233 at the Adelaide Oval Sangakkarra 192 at Bellerieve Hendren's 169 at the Exhibition Ground Atapattu's 133 at Cazaly Stadium Bashar's 54 at Marrara Cricket Ground I think that just about covers ground records by tourists in Australia
JGK
Roar Guru
Highest score in a Melbourne Test. Ross Taylor got 290 odd at the WACA a couple of years ago.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The lifeless pitches in recent home Australian series makes that achievement far easier than it used to be.
Barmyfarmer
Guest
Foreign conditions do sort the men from the boys and he has now bagged a century at every Australian test ground, as well as the highest score by a visiting batsmen at the MCG. Home or away class in every way!
Mickey of mo$man
Guest
He just surpassed Brian Lara's test runs, but has played 40 more innings.. he is a class player no doubt about it, but I don't think he will go down as one of the great test batsmen.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Cook's career has been one of great concentration, good judgement and the ability to bat for long periods. Nice to see that on display one more time out here.
I ate pies
Guest
Pfft, the type of pitch doesn’t count when it’s your home country. He’s been batting on those pitches his whole life. Foreign conditions sort the men from the boys. More importantly, he’s the most boring player in world cricket, and I for one hope he goes out quickly every time I see him bat.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Hobbs, Hutton and Sutcliffe all opened on those green English pitches before they were covered. I know which conditions would be tougher to bat in, but my intent wasn't and isn't to belittle Cook's achievements. Rather, it was to acknowledge how good some of the English openers were in earlier years.
Gordon Smith
Guest
HIghest score by a visiting player in an Australian test is quite an achievement
Barmyfarmer
Guest
His stats need context to demonstrate the greatness of his achievements. Opening the batting in England on green wickets for the bulk of your 12 year career spanning 151 test matches, I'd say averaging 47 isn't too shabby...I do agree though it would be a difficult pick for an all time England XI.
Barmyfarmer
Guest
Made a little contribution today though...
Bob Sims
Guest
As is so often said in cricket, "form comes and goes, but class is permanent."
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
or Sutcliffe...
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
From 1921 - 2000, there were 196 scores of 200+ in test cricket. 196 double centuries in 75 years of test cricket. Since 2001, there have been 165 in 17 years. The covering of pitches may have had a slight impact on the rise of 200's in the 70's and through the 80's and 90's, small increases could be explained by an increased number of tests played each year. However, totals by decade, more than doubled from the 1990's to the 2000's. Your suggestion that 100 isn't what it used to be, may have some merit.
Swannies
Guest
I never wrote Cooky off...he was good by to get a big score sooner or later! Only wished he did this in Adelaide and it could have been a closer series! But hats off to Cooky!
Paul D
Roar Guru
Agreed, don't see how he can displace Jack Hobbs or Len Hutton
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Interesting article, David. For me, Cook has always been a player easy to respect and hard to dislike. His career will leave him at the pointy end of test runs, but his average will always dilute his ranking for many. A very good player but, in my opinion, Cook would not make the English all-time best XI because England have had even better openers in the past.
John360180
Guest
Awesome articulate David. Gee we all wish you were writing in the mainstream media. Cook is all class. Why do the Aussies think there job is done and celebrate like galahs when they reach 100? Surely in this day of small boundaries, super bats and roads for pitches 200 is the standard!