‘I DIDN’T OFFER A CHANCE’

ALASTAIR COOK finally got to celebrate his much-coveted 20th Test century yesterday. After finishing unbeaten on 114, Cook declared: ‘This hundred has to be right up there. I don’t think I gave a chance and I felt in control. ‘It’s been a year since my last Test hundred, and I’ve made 90 a couple of times in between. So to move from 19 to 20 means a lot. It’s very satisfying.’ The England opener prepared for the game with a few days of sheep-herding last week on his father-inlaw’s farm in Bedfordshire before attending the funeral of a former club-mate, David Randall, in Maldon on Monday. Randall died of cancer aged only 27. ‘It’s been an emotional time,’ said Cook. ‘When you score a hundred you realise how lucky you are. Unfortunately, he can’t do that any more.’ South Africa bowling coach Allan Donald played down talk that his team’s premier strike bowler, Dale Steyn, was carrying an injury after he was seen having his right ankle bandaged during play. Steyn bowled 21 wicketless overs but Donald insisted: ‘There is absolutely nothing wrong with Dale Steyn. It was a hard day’s Test cricket and England batted really well. Alastair Cook showed immense discipline and concentration in how he left the ball. He made us come to him at times.’ Meanwhile, Mark Boucher, who left South Africa’s squad last week after being hit in the left eye by a bail while keeping wicket at Taunton, has undergone a successful three-hour operation in Cape Town. A Cricket South Africa statement said: ‘There were no complications and the outcome looks positive.’