From Nagpur to Brisbane, a look at Alastair Cook's five greatest Test innings

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  • Cook's record in the subcontinent is the best by any non-Asian batsman.

    As Alastair Cook gets ready for his international swansong with, the tributes have been pouring in from all quarters.

    Described as the rock of England’s batting by his mentor Graham Gooch, the England opener has played many an innings of note in the span of his 160-Test long international career.

    We take a look at five of the greatest innings played by the southpaw.

    104 – India v England, Nagpur 2006

    It is no surprise to see Cook’s maiden Test century features in the list given the circumstances it was scored in. Following his performances for the England Lions in their tour of the Caribbean, Cook was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for Michael Vaughan in the first Test against India at Nagpur.

    The then 21-year-old notched up a 160-ball 60 in the first innings before registering his maiden Test ton in the second innings in conditions completely alien to the ones he was accustomed to at Chelmsford with Essex. In doing so, the left-hander became only the fifth Englishman to score a century and a half-century in his debut Test.

    Cook stood tall for England in the second innings.

    Cook stood tall for England in the second innings.

    110 – England v Pakistan, Oval 2010

    One of the hallmarks of Cook’s England career has been his ability to bounce back from the toughest of situations. During Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010, the opener had only managed just 47 runs from the first five innings and his place in the squad was being questioned.

    The turnaround came in the second innings of the third Test at The Oval where Cook slammed a majestic 110 in testing conditions. Despite England losing the match, that innings cemented Cook’s position in the team at a time when murmurs of a potential axing were growing.

    Cook showed his mental fortitude with a gritty knock.

    Cook showed his mental fortitude with a gritty knock.

    294 – England v India, Edgbaston 2011

    The Edgbaston Test between England and India was another example of Cook’s ability to bounce back from a lean spell. Prior to the match, the southpaw had only aggregated 20 runs in his four innings.

    After England bowled India out for 224 in their first innings, Cook and Andrew Strauss put on 186 runs for the opening wicket before the latter was dismissed. Cook, though, marched on with a chanceless innings of 294. Not once did the opening batsman give any opportunity to the bowlers in his 13-hour vigil at the crease as England declared after a mammoth 710-7.

    A maiden triple-ton eluded him after he holed out following his first lapse of concentration but his innings remains the sixth-highest by an England batsman.

    The left-hander fell just six runs shy of a maiden triple-ton.

    The left-hander fell just six runs shy of a maiden triple-ton.

    190 – India v England, Kolkata 2012

    That Cook absolutely loves batting against India seems a distant memory following his struggles in the ongoing Test series but it remains a fact.

    Taking over the England captaincy from Strauss in 2012, Cook went on to register three tons in as many matches on the team’s tour of India. In the third Test at Kolkata, the opening batsman was once again unflappable as he piled on 190 runs in England’s first innings. It took a run-out to end his stay at the crease but his knock had ensured victory for the visitors which gave them a 2-1 lead in the series. It was a lead Cook and his men would not relinquish as England completed a Test series win in India for the first time in 28 years.

    Cook’s ability to thrive in subcontinent conditions set him apart from many other overseas batsmen. The nine tons he has scored in those conditions is the most by any non-Asian batsman in history.

    Cook set up a historic series win in India with his 190.

    Cook set up a historic series win in India with his 190.

    235 – Australia v England, Brisbane 2010

    In the first Ashes Test of 2010-11 at Brisbane, Australia had taken a huge 221-run lead in the first innings. With their backs against the wall, England put up monumental 517-1 in the second innings before declaring.

    Cook led England’s reply with an unbeaten 235 which was his second century ton on Australian soil. That was just the start of a prolific series for the batsman who would go on to aggregate 766 runs in eight innings in the series as England won the Ashes Down Under for the first time in over 24 years. That incredible run from Cook included tons at Adelaide and Sydney too.

    Cook's Brisbane knock was the start of a prolific Ashes.

    Cook’s Brisbane knock was the start of a prolific Ashes.

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