LAWRENCE BOOTH AT THE OVAL

ALASTAIR COOK needs only three more runs today to ensure a Test average of 45, and 30 more to overtake Kumar Sangakkara (right) and move into fifth place on the all-time Test run-charts. After finishing the third day on 46, Cook has 12,371 runs in total. This Test began without a half-century from an opener on either side in the first four Tests. But Cook could sign off with two here.