An illustrious international career which has spanned more than 12 overs years is about to come to an end with Alastair Cook set to bid goodbye to England colours following the completion of the final Test against India.
England’s all-time record run-scorer has endured criticism for his patchy form over the past two years but there is no doubt that he will go down as one of the greatest openers to have played the game.
Over his 12-year international career spanning 160 Tests, Cook has played with some equally illustrious team-mates.
Here, we look at the best England Test XI the 33-year-old has played with during his international career.
ANDREW STRAUSS
Cook’s partnership with Strauss at the top is something England have struggled to replicate ever since the latter’s retirement in 2012. The opening pair became only the fourth in history to complete 100 innings together in Test cricket during England’s away series against Pakistan in 2012.
ALASTAIR COOK
Of course Cook features in the list himself given his contributions to English cricket. With 32 tons and over 12,000 runs to his name after 160 Tests, there aren’t many openers in the history of the game who have stayed at the top for so long as Cook.
England have still not been able to replicate the Cook-Strauss pairing.
IAN BELL
With 118 Tests under his belt, Ian Bell was for long a stalwart in the Cook-led England side. The technically sound batsman was the hero of England’s Ashes victory over Australia in 2013 registering centuries in each of his side’s three wins. He also played a big role in England’s first overseas Test victory over India since 1984-85.
JOE ROOT
Cook’s successor as England captain could be the man who overhauls his run tally by the time he hangs up his boots. The England Test skipper recently breached the 6,000-run mark in Test cricket, taking 127 innings to get there compared to the 131 taken by Cook himself. He is Cook’s successor in more ways than one and is set to be the bedrock of England’s batting for some time to come.
KEVIN PIETERSEN
Controversial though he might be, there is no doubt that Kevin Pietersen is one of the best middle-order batsmen to put on the England whites. He registered 23 Test tons over the course of his career but perhaps none was as important as his first-ever Ashes ton at the Oval in 2005 which sealed the return of the urn to England after a gap of 17 years.
ANDREW FLINTOFF
The man for the big occasion, they don’t quite make them like Freddie anymore. The England all-rounder’s numbers with both bat and ball are nothing out of the ordinary but he had that rare ability to lift the spirits of the entire team. His most lasting contribution to English cricket came in the 2005 Ashes series win.
Flintoff starred in many famous England wins.
MATT PRIOR
With a Test batting average of over 40 after 79 matches, Prior was another vital cog in England’s rise to the top of the Test rankings. A no nonsense batsman, Prior was England’s chirpy cheerleader from behind the stumps. His solid contributions with both bat and gloves saw him awarded England’s cricketer of the year award in 2013.
GRAEME SWANN
It is hard to believe that a man who made his Test debut at the age of 28 would go down as one of England’s greatest spinners but that is exactly what Swann achieved. He retired five years later but by then he had picked up 255 wickets in just 60 Tests. During that prolific five-year spell, the off-spinner was the highest wicket-taker among all active bowlers in Test cricket.
JAMES ANDERSON
The veteran will probably feature in any England Test XI or World XI for that matter. With 559 Test wickets to his name, Anderson is currently on the verge of overtaking Glenn McGrath as the all-time leading wicket-taker among pacers. For long, he was Cook’s trusted lieutenant with the new ball and it is testament to Anderson’s longevity that he has been able to outlast his former skipper in the Test arena.
STUART BROAD
If Anderson has been one half of the pace attack which has accompanied Cook and England’s rise to the top, Broad is the other. The 32-year-old has gone past 400 Test wickets already and his new-ball partnership with Anderson remains one of the most prolific in the history of the game.
Anderson and Broad were Cook’s trusted new-ball pairing for long.
STEVE HARMISON
The Ashington-born pacer blew hot and cold but when on song, he was one of the most difficult bowlers to face up given the pace and bounce he generated. His most important contribution in England colours came in the 2005 Ashes series at Edgbaston where his wicket to dismiss Michael Kasprowicz sealed a thrilling two-run win to level the series.
His inconsistencies aside, Harmison’s 226 scalps in 63 Tests is enough to warrant his selection as the designated third seamer in the playing XI.
