India vs England 5th Test Kennington Oval: How Alastair Cook Can Replace Kumar Sangakkara And Join Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid in Top-Five Highest Run-Scorers List

India vs England 5th Test Kennington Oval: There is one record which will stay with Cook irrespective of his batting performance. He has the best bowling average for a Test captain. His bowling statistics read an average of 7 after he took the wicket of Ishant Sharma.

India vs England 5th Test Kennington Oval: Alastair Cook was once pitted as someone who could go past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring highest Test runs, but the 33-year-old’s shock retirement announcement has left the world of Test cricket in a tizzy. One may look at it this way, 33 years is too early to throw in the towel, also considering that is the only format you are playing. But what has happened has happened. Yet, Cook, who will play his last Test at Kennington Oval will have a chance of replacing Kumar Sangakkara to join Tendulkar, Dravid in the list of top five-highest Test run-getters.

In order to beat Sangakkara, he has to score more than 146 runs at Kennington Oval, London. But, again considering his poor run of form that does not look easy. The 33-year-old as he has scored just 107 runs from 7 innings in the series so far, something that just not reflect his talent.

The left-handed batsman has amassed 12,254 Test runs and 32 Test centuries from 160 Tests he has played so far. His final Test at The Oval will be his 159th consecutive game in the longest format, the longest such streak in all international cricket.

On Monday, Cook announced that England’s fifth Test against India that starts on September 7 at The Oval will be his last.  “After much thought and deliberation over the last few months I have decided to announce my retirement from international cricket at the end of this Test series against India,” Cook said. “Although it is a sad day, I can do so with a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything and there is nothing left in the tank,” he added.

Most runs

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
SR Tendulkar (INDIA)	1989-2013	200	329	33	15921	248*	53.78	51	68	14
RT Ponting (AUS)	1995-2012	168	287	29	13378	257	51.85	41	62	17
JH Kallis (ICC/SA)	1995-2013	166	280	40	13289	224	55.37	45	58	16
R Dravid (ICC/INDIA)	1996-2012	164	286	32	13288	270	52.31	36	63	8
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2015	134	233	17	12400	319	57.40	38	52	11
AN Cook (ENG)	2006-2018	160	289	16	12254	294	44.88	32	56	9

Also, there is one record which will stay with Cook irrespective of his batting performance. He has the best bowling average for a Test captain. His bowling statistics read an average of 7 after he took the wicket of Ishant Sharma. Maybe that’s the reason why Ishant has targetted the England GOAT.