153NO: COOK’S OF THE HIGHEST BORDER
Aussie legend pays tribute to ‘amazing and extraordinary Cookie’ as he equals his record for consecutive Test matches
THEY say it takes one to know one.
And when Alastair Cook takes the field at Lord’s for his recordequalling 153rd consecutive Test match, only he and Allan Border will know how that feels.
Both have led their countries with distinction, winning Ashes series and breaking records along the way.
Both are tough, practical left-handers and both have a special place in their heart for Essex CCC, who they have both played for and won a County Championship.
And 24 years after Border retired, having played the last of his 156 Tests, the Aussie legend is full of praise for Cook’s achievement.
“Hearty congratulations to Cookie,” said Border from his home Down Under.
“I didn’t realise anyone was getting that close in terms of consecutive Test matches, but it is an amazing thing.
“I’ve been a great fan of his from a distance over the years. I don’t know him well, but we’ve got that Essex connection.
“I spent two fantastic years playing there and so I’ve watched his progress as a former player from the club.
“To have stayed fit and able to play that many consecutive games is remarkable.
“To have not copped one on the finger or done a hamstring or anything in the field to stop you playing is incredible.
“I know I was lucky that whenever I did have an injury that was a bit nasty or stopped me playing, it came at a time when I had a break from the game or enough time to get over it and I guess Cookie has been the same.” Of course, it has taken more than luck and fitness for Cook to draw level with Border, who took 15 years to set the bar so high.
After scoring a hundred on debut, illness kept Cook out of his third match, but since then he has been able to produce the goods more often than not over the past 12 years to become England’s record run scorer.
But despite scoring 244 not out just four matches ago, Cook is under more pressure than usual to find greater consistency and make sure he can continue for as long as Border thinks he can. “There is no reason why he can’t keep going for a few years yet,” said the Aussie, 62.
“The number he ends up with could be something quite extraordinary.
“When I finished I was a 38-year-old, but Cook is only 33 so he will understand his game well enough to know where he is at when it comes to his performances.
“The Ashes are only just over a year away, so he’ll be 34 and could have a great series and then he might fancy coming back to Australia again, he’s the only one who will know.
“It is not the physical side so much as the mental stresses you go through. Cookie will understand that better than most and he’s in the eye of the storm all the time as an opener.
“That is the extraordinary thing for me, the fact he has been able to maintain a high level of performance given that he faces the new ball all the time against fresh bowlers and was captain for a long time too. I take my hat off to him.”