XtraTime Web Desk: Former England opener Alastair Cook became the youngest cricketer to reach the milestone of 10000 runs in test cricket on this day in 2016 at Chester le Street. Cook broke the record set by Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar who reached the milestone when he was 31 years 326 days. Cook achieved the feat when he was 31 years 154 days.
Alastair Cook will never be regarded as the greatest batsmen in test cricket history but when it comes to robust technique and temperament, he will rank as one of the best. Cook’s ability to adapt to any conditions was the secret behind his success as an opener especially for someone hailing from England where the new ball swings rapidly.
England went into the second test match of the 2016 series against Sri Lanka, with Cook requiring 20 runs to reach the milestone. Although the home team posted a mammoth first innings total 498/9 declared, Cook could only manage 15 runs. Sri Lanka was made to follow on after they were bundled out for 101 in their first innings. In the second innings the visitors scored 319 runs, setting England a victory target of 79 runs. Cook remained not out on 47 runs to give England a victory by 9 wickets. On reaching 5 runs, Cook achieved the milestone of 10000 runs in test cricket, becoming the first England cricketer to do so. Cook, who made his test debut against India on March 01,2006 at Nagpur, went on to score 12472 runs from 161 test matches at an average of 45.35. He scored 33 hundreds and 57 fifties for England in tests.
Alastair Cook was knighted in 2018 for his services to England cricket.