Alastair Cook (in pic) became England’s leading run-scorer in Test cricket on Saturday, overtaking his mentor and friend Graham Gooch on the all-time list by moving past 32 runs against New Zealand at Headingley. The England captain began the second Test in leeds 31 runs behind Gooch, whose national record of 8,900 has stood since 1995. Cook broke the record just after the lunch interval on day two when he pushed a firm drive off Tim Southee through the covers for four, taking him to 33.
He celebrated with typical understatement, waving his bat to all corners of the ground as fans rose to their feet in applause. Cook was congratulated by Adam lyth, his teammate at the crease, and they exchanged a high-five. The 30-year-old Cook worked under Gooch as an 18-year-old at English county side Essex, and again for almost five years with England when Gooch was the national team’s batting coach. They remain good friends and speak regularly.
Cook is England’s top century-maker in Tests with 27, four more than anyone else, and has come through challenging periods in his England career when both his captaincy and place in the team were questioned — even as recently as the tour to the West Indies in April. Cook reached the milestone a day after James Anderson became the first Englishman to take 400 test wickets. Cook is the 13th leading Test run-scorer overall. India’s Sachin Tendulkar is top with 15,921 runs.
Cook led his team’s impressive start in their reply to New Zealand’s first-innings total of 350 on day two of the second Test on Saturday. Fellow opener Adam lyth was looking settled on 45, his highest score in his third Test, as England accelerated to 79-0 soon after lunch. Earlier, New Zealand resumed on 297-8 and its tailenders cut loose under blue skies, adding 53 runs in a chaotic 7.1 overs that frustrated England’s attack and continued the free-scoring approach of the opening day.
Henry smashed a four and a six before misjudging another heave and edging Broad to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Craig and No. 11 Boult had a potentially valuable 40-run stand for the final wicket. Boult (15) produced an uppercut shot over the slips for four off Broad, before picking out lyth at point. England lead the test series 1-0.
Brief Scores
New Zealand: 350 all out (luke Ronchi 88, Tom latham 84; Stuart Broad 5/109) lead England: 253/5 in 88 overs (Adam lyth 107, Alastair Cook 75; Trent Boult 2/63) by 97 runs.
