England vs India 2018, 5th Test: Alastair Cook Becomes Fifth Highest Run-Getter in Test Cricket

Former England skipper Alastair Cook went past Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara and became overall the fifth highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket. The southpaw Cook achieved the record in the second innings of the fifth and the final Test against India at the Kennington Oval in London.

Moreover, after scoring an impressive 71 in the first innings, he is registered a farewell century in grand style. It will be a fitting end to a brilliant career of a man who has always kept his team above anything else.

Following a few disastrous months where Cook failed to score enough runs, he made up his mind upon retirement. Before the start of the final Test, he had made it public that he will be retiring after the final Test.

Though Cook never had the best of average in the Test fold, but he lived his dream. However, he did emerge as one of the finest batsmen England has ever seen.

He played a record 158 Tests on a trot which is still a record. Making his debut back in 2006 at Nagpur against India, Cook has gone onto score runs in every condition.

Must Read | Cook  – The Marvel of Cricket Who Retires

The 33-year-old hasn’t been at his best in the last few months. The two innings to show so far has been the double centuries on a relatively flat track in Melbourne and against a below-par Windies side.

Alastair Cook was not in the best of forms coming into his final Test

He didn’t score anything on either side of it. Had Cook impressed throughout the series, his decision making might have been different. In the recent interview, James Anderson said a word about his teammate and old friend Cook

However, it hasn’t been the case, and the southpaw has faltered for all the first four Tests. Yet, in his final Test, he has looked more convincing.

Cook has come out with a positive frame of mind in his last Test in London, and it has paid off rich dividends. Not many would hope to see Cook finishing his Test career with a fifty and a century in his final Test.

Cook had joined the elite list of batsmen with centuries on both their debut Test and farewell Test as well.

Meanwhile, England are in a dominating position in the fifth and the final Test at the Kennington Oval.

England team is well set to win the series with the scoreline of 4-1 against India.

Have a look at the table of highest run-getters in the Test Cricket: