Ashes 2017/18 : Twitter Lauds Alastair Cook for Stunning Double Century at the 'G'

It took Alastair Cook some time to prove his mettle once again, but the former England skipper made sure to mark his return to form in style. The southpaw scored a monumental double century in the ongoing Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to ease the pressure off himself and put England in a commanding position.

Cook entered the Test under huge pressure, having managed just 83 runs at an average of 13.83 in the first three Ashes Tests and being without a century since his 243-run knock against the Windies at home 11 innings ago.

Must Read: Kevin Pietersen Takes Dig At Alastair Cook

In fact, some former players including Mitchell Johnson and Kevin Pietersen had even gone on to say that the southpaw might bring down curtains on his career. But just when it seemed the critics were right, England’s leading centurion and run-scorer in Tests proved them wrong with his first century at the MCG and his first in the Ashes since 2011.

Cook finished day two of the game on 104 not out and was well supported by his successor Joe Root (49 not out), as the duo shared an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 112 to help England reach 192 for two by the close in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 327.

Also Read: Ashes 2017/18: This Series Could be the Making of Joe Root as Skipper – Michael Hussey

Day 3, however, began on a tough note for the visitors, as they lost their skipper and in-form Dawid Malan early. But Cook held firm and continued to rack up runs from the other end to reach his double century. He was well supported by Stuart Broad who scored a quickfire fifty to help England take command of the proceedings in the penultimate Ashes Test.

81 – Alastair Cook is the first England batsman to hit multiple double centuries in the same calendar year since Wally Hammond in 1936, 81 years ago. Gun. #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->c<!---->a<!---->I<!---->C<!---->5<!---->Q<!---->E<!---->b<!---->g<!---->Z

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Twitter, meanwhile, was quick to laud Cook for the stunning innings. At stumps on day 3, Cook was unbeaten on 244.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the knock:

https://twitter.com/benstokes38/status/946259105655721984

The sound of the extraordinary @<!---->T<!---->h<!---->e<!---->B<!---->a<!---->r<!---->m<!---->y<!---->A<!---->r<!---->m<!---->y as Alastair Cook reaches his 200.

???#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s #<!---->b<!---->b<!---->c<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->B<!---->L<!---->l<!---->B<!---->i<!---->A<!---->B<!---->I<!---->e<!---->h

— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Cook – ‘daddy’ ? #<!---->l<!---->e<!---->g<!---->e<!---->n<!---->d

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Amazing Alistar Cook!!! What picture of concentration. So impressed, how much longer can he bat? Or should I say how much longer can Anderson hang around #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Love this …. Ali Cooks 200 moment #<!---->B<!---->a<!---->r<!---->m<!---->y<!---->A<!---->r<!---->m<!---->y … #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->X<!---->L<!---->9<!---->h<!---->I<!---->I<!---->Q<!---->1<!---->K<!---->0

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

For the doubters. For the haters. For the critics. For the naysayers.

? number 32.

Alastair Cook. Legend.#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->6<!---->4<!---->J<!---->Y<!---->S<!---->7<!---->C<!---->s<!---->2<!---->d

— Gray-Nicolls (@graynics) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Great contrasts in the celebrations upon reaching their hundreds from Alastair Cook and David Warner. As the saying goes, class is permanent

— Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Yes Cooky!!!! Form is temporary, Class is permanent!! Mentally one of the toughest players to ever play the game and England’s greatest ever run scorer, well played Alastair Cook!! ???#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s #<!---->L<!---->e<!---->g<!---->e<!---->n<!---->d

— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Well batted Alastair Cook. Too late to save the Ashes but not too late to restore some much-needed pride in this England team. Good, too, to see @<!---->S<!---->t<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->t<!---->B<!---->r<!---->o<!---->a<!---->d<!---->8 bowling well again & very impressed by young @_TC59’s fiery & aggressive debut. His Dad would have loved it. ?#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->x<!---->b<!---->8<!---->c<!---->s<!---->M<!---->A<!---->Y<!---->J

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Alastair Cook now has a century at Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Just woke up & seen the scores. Alastair Cook ?. Whoever wrote him off, you did so at your own peril! The blokes a genius. Form is temporary…class is permanent! ??

— Ben Slater (@BennySlats) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7

Most 150+ scores for England in Tests:
11 – Alastair Cook
10 – Wally Hammond
10 – Len Hutton
10 – Kevin Pietersen#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7