How Captain Cook conquered India

First of many: Alastair Cook brings up his maiden Test century on his England debut in India. Picture: Rebecca Naden/PA Archive

Friday, December 7, 2012
3:27 PM

Alastair Cook has led from the front since taking over as England Test captain with a century in each of his three Tests at the helm.

The fact he has done so on the foreign wickets of the sub-continent, and inspired England’s turnaround in the series against India, has made the feat all the more significant.

Here London24 looks at last three of his record-breaking 23 Test centuries.

176 - 1ST TEST AT AHMEDABAD

After being asked to follow on Cook led an unlikely bid to save the Test as he batted through the fourth day, and for more than six hours, to compile a determined 176. But with Matt Prior’s 91 the only notable support he was left with too much to do as England eventually succumbed by nine wickets.

122 - 2ND TEST IN MUMBAI

Cook set the stage for a series-levelling win as he scored 122 and combined in a 206-runs stand with Kevin Pietersen for the third wicket to ensure England a first-innings lead. That proved crucial as India were then bowled out for 142 in their second innings before Cook guided his side to a 10-wicket win.

190 - 3RD TEST IN KOLKATA

The skipper became England’s most prolific Test centurion as his studied dominance of the Indian attack continued on as he fell just short of a double century. It took a freak dismissal to finally remove him, when he lifted his bat to evade Virat Kohli’s throw only to see the ball crash into the stumps and catch him out of his ground.