Stats Highlights: Ind vs Eng, 3rd Test, Day 2
First Published : 06 Dec 2012, 20:08
Last Modified : 06 Dec 2012, 20:08
Mumbai, Dec 06: Since the beginning of the ongoing series between India and England, one name has consistantly made headlines – it’s that of their skipper Alastair Cook. While he may be a relative newbie when it comes to leading an international side, Cook has thus far proven that he can match any other leader pound for pound, and of course, ton for ton! In fact, by registering his fifth hundred in his fifth game at the helm, Cook proved to one and all that he is truly pulling away from the rest of the herd.
Today, at the Eden Gardens, Cook not only brought up yet another century – his 23rd – but he also reached the 7000-run mark. He thereby became the youngest player to reach this milestone. Here are these and some more statistical highlights from a day of Test cricket that well and truly belong to captain Cook:
Indian innings folded at 316. In their last three Tests at the Eden Gardens, India had posted 600-plus in their first innings.
The first wicket partnership of 165 runs between Alastair Cook and Nick Compton is England’s best for the opening wicket at the Eden Gardens. The previous best was a paltry 52 between Jack Robertson and Dick Spooner in 1952-53.
The above partnership was also the third highest by any side against India. Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten had added 236 runs for South Africa in 1996-97. Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds put on 172 runs for West Indies in 2002-03.
The above partnership is England’s second best opening partnership in India. Graeme Fowler and Tim Robinson had added 178 runs at Chennai in 1984-85.
Alastair Cook – when on 88 – completed 7000 runs in Test cricket. He became 10th England batsman and 41st player in Test history to reach this landmark.
At 27 years 347 days, Cook is the youngest to reach this landmark, taking the record from India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who was 28 years 193 days old when he accomplished this feat.
Cook is also the quickest in terms of number of days (taken from Test debut) to reach the 7000-run mark. Cook did so in only 2482 days, taking the record from fellow teammate Kevin Pietersen, who did so in 2571 days.
The hundred was Cook’s fifth in as many matches as captain! No one else has managed hundreds in more than two matches since their captaincy debut.
The hundred was Cook’s third in three matches against India. All other England captains have a combined tally of just four hundreds on Indian soil!
The hundred was Cook’s 23rd in 86 Tests. He now holds the record of scoring most Test hundreds for England on his own, moving ahead of Wally Hammond, Geoff Boycott, Colin Cowdrey and Kevin Pietersen, who have scored 22 hundreds each against their name.
Cook also became the fifth visiting batsman to score hundreds in three consecutive Tests on Indian soil after West Indies’ Everton Weekes and Gary Sobers, England’s Ken Barrington and Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower.
Cook’s tally of 493 runs is the highest by an England captain in a series in India. Ted Dexter had scored 409 runs in five-match series in 1961-62. The overall record is held by West Indies’ Clive Lloyd with 636 runs in a five-match series in 1974-75.
Cook’s run aggregate of 835 runs is the highest by any captain after five Tests (and Cook has not finished this Test just yet!). The previous record was held by Don Bradman with 810 runs. Cook also has a better average (139.16) than Sir Don (90.00).
Cook has now played 1019 balls in the series. He became fifth England player (after Denis Amiss, Chris Tavare, Tim Robinson and Graeme Fowler; and 11th overall) to play 1000 balls in a series against India in India. Cook is the fourth batsman to do so since 2000 after Andy Flower, Misbah-ul-Haq and Hashim Amla.
