Alastair Cook Becomes 5th Batsman to Score a Century in His Debut and Last Test
Alastair Cook also became the left-handed batsman with most runs in Test cricket as he went past Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 12,400 runs.
Alastair Cook, who is playing his last Test match, scored his career’s 33rd Test century against India at the Oval during the day four of the fifth and final Test. Cook, interestingly, started his Test career with a century and now ends with the three-figure mark as well. With it, he becomes the fifth cricketer to start and end Test career with a ton. The other four to achieve the feat are Australia’s Reggie Duff (1902-1905), Bill Ponsford (1924-1934), Greg Chappell (1970-1984) and former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin (1984-2000). India vs England Live Score 5th Test Day 4
Cook made his debut against India in 2006 at Nagpur and interestingly against the same opponent ends his career. What’s more interesting is that, in the first innings of his debut Test, Cook scored a half-century. Just as he did in the first innings of his last Test. Alastair Cook Retirement: Check Out Quotes on England's Highest Test Run Scorer
Cook, who has scored over 12400 runs, is England’s all-time highest run-getter in Test cricket. The left-hander, apart from 33 centuries, has 57 half-centuries against his name. On overall list of most runs in Test cricket, Cook stands on number five with Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Cook also became the left-handed batsman with most runs in Test cricket as he went past Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 12,400 runs. Hanuma Vihari Becomes 26th Indian Player to Score a Half-Century or More in Debut Innings
After the fourth Test between India and England, Cook had announced his retirement from Test cricket. Before his final Test, Cook was struggling with his form and returned with scores of 13, 0, 21, 29, 17, 17, 12 in the four Test matches and that perhaps prompted him to hang his boots.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2018 05:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).