Dream farewell on cards for Cook

Batsman completes day still at the crease as England extend advantage

Alastair Cook can dream of a 33rd Test century in the final innings of his recordbreaking career after steering England to stumps against India at The Oval.

Cook was still battling away unbeaten, on 46, as he so often has throughout his 161 Tests, in a total of 114 for two as England extended their overall lead to 154 after bowling India out for 292.

Home advantage on day three of this fifth Specsavers Test would have been still more substantial without the revival engineered by India’s charismatic allrounder Ravindra Jadeja (86 no) and Hanuma Vihari (56).

The tourists resumed on 174 for six and appeared sure to trail significantly until the seventh-wicket pair took their stand to 77, and 132 were added in all for the last four to fall.

As Cook then set out to consolidate, he was cheered and clapped to the middle by his fourth standing ovation of the week here.

Cook spent 26 balls stuck on 13 either side of tea.

But he uncovered occasional fluency, in an unbroken 50 stand with his captain Joe Root.

As has been the curious case throughout this match so far, bat dominated ball before lunch – thanks to Jadeja and Vihari this time.

James Anderson, still three wickets short of overhauling Australia great Glenn McGrath’s world record of 363 for any pace bowler, drew a blank alongside Stuart Broad.

Debutant Vihari completed his halfcentury from 104 balls.

It took Jadeja nine deliveries more and into the afternoon before he cut Moeen for his seventh boundary to reach the same milestone.

Vihari’s dismissal was the only one before lunch. Ishant Sharma went in near action replay to Moeen in early afternoon, and then Shami got greedy against Adil Rashid and holed out at long-on.

Jadeja would have been left stranded at 260 all out if Jennings had held a sharp catch off bat and pad when Rashid’s googly was too much for Bumrah.

But he did not and Jadeja cashed in as the buccaneering presence in a lastwicket stand. India’s fun finally ended when Bumrah was run out chancing a tight single.

Then, of course, it was over to Cook – one last time.

Getty. Clockwise from main picture – Alastair Cook drives; Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after dismissing Moeen Ali; James Anderson is still looking for three wickets to overhaul Glenn McGrath.