Alastair Cook hits fifty in final Test
AFP - Alastair Cook marked his final Test appearance with the first fifty by an opening batsman on either side this series as England frustrated India at the Oval yesterday.
England were 123 for one at tea, after winning the toss on the first day of the fifth Test.
Cook was 66 not out and fellow left-hander Moeen Ali 23 not out.
Both batsmen were dropped on their respective lunch scores of 37 not out and two not out.
The pair had so far added an unbroken 63 in 25 overs.
Meanwhile, India paceman
Mohammed Shami (none for 27 in 16 overs) was unlucky to repeatedly beat the duo with a succession of leg-cutters, none of which took the outside edge.
Cook, England’s all-time record Test run-scorer was making his final appearance at this level before international retirement.
The 33-year-old opener, who will continue to play for Essex, came into this match having scored 12,254 Test runs at an average of 44.88 including 32 hundreds.
But he has struggled for runs
lately, with his previous best score this series the 29 he made during India’s 203-run win in the third Test at Trent Bridge.
Cook, extending his England appearance record to 161 Tests, was thrust straight into the action when Joe Root, his successor as England captain, opted to bat first after winning the toss.
Cook, who walked out to a guard of honour from the India Team, was soon into his stride with two trademark boundaries off successive balls from fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah - a square-cut followed by a pull.