Alastair Cook - The Perfect Englishman becomes highest run-getter in Test cricket from England

Alastaiur Cook reaches his half-century against New Zealand on Day 2 of the 2^nd Test

Alastair Cook’s story is one of the boy who does not bunk classes, who does not chase girls, and does not play prank on teachers. It is one of the boy who sits in the first bench, taking copious notes, and finishes first in every exam. Excellent people are made whereas great people are born – Cook has registered his name at the top in the list of great cricketers from England, surpassing Graham Gooch’s record of most Test runs (8900).

He was prolific from the very beginning, scoring a century on debut against India, replacing Marcus Trescothick. He went on to score four hundreds in his first four-Test series. He was also the youngest Englishman to score 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 Test runs. Reaching newer heights consistently, in 2010-11 Ashes series he played a gigantic role in getting a major victory over traditional rivals Australia.

He scored the second highest number of runs in a Test series for an Englishman, batting for over 35 hours during the series. Then came the big day in the year 2012 when Cook was appointed as the prestigious Test captain. He captained England to its first Test series victory on Indian soil since 1984–85. During the tour he broke the record for most Test centuries for England, 23.

By the age of 26 years he had an astonishing 26 Test centuries to his name. Cook was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2011. He was subjected to numerous criticisms due to his ODI captaincy tactics and for not being among runs for over an year, but the King has taken a step forward now by scoring a hundred in the first Test against New Zealand.

Today when he reached the score of 32, he became the top scorer for England in Tests, breaking a record which stood with Gooch for almost 20 years. He is 30 now and has now scored 8944 Test runs. With 27 centuries he also holds the record for most Test centuries by an Englishman. Cook has now played 112 Tests in a row, another English record. He is well on his way to become the best player England has ever produced.

Cook’s runs v opponents

1787 – Australia

1735 – India

1435 – West Indies

1078 – Sri Lanka

968 – New Zealand

1941 – Others

Highest run scorers for England (in Tests)

	Runs	Tests	Years	Average
Alastair Cook	8,944	114	2006-present	46.85*
Graham Gooch	8,900	118	1975-1995	42.58
Alec Stewart	8,463	133	1990-2003	39.54
David Gower	8,231	117	1978-1992	44.25
Kevin Pietersen	8,181	104	2005-2014	47.28