Alastair Cook resigned as captain after a disastrous tour of India where they were soundly beaten 4-0. Joe Root will now lead England against South Africa. This may ease the pressure on Cook and help him bat more freely. A number of players perform better when they are relieved from the pressures of captaincy and England will be hoping that the same happens with Cook.

There is no doubt that Cook is one of England’s all-time great batsmen. He has scored runs all over the world in the most testing of conditions. Here are some of the statistical highlights and achievements of Cook’s illustrious Test career.

11,057 - Cook has scored 11,057 Test runs, which is the most by an Englishman and the 10th most overall. He has scored 2157 runs more than Graham Gooch, who is the 2nd highest run scorer for England.

140 - Prior to the 1st Test against South Africa, Cook has played 140 Tests, which is also the highest by an Englishman.

30/53 - Cook has scored 30 centuries and 53 fifties for England in Tests. Both of these are records for England.

5 - Cook has scored over 1,000 runs in a calendar year 5 times, in Tests. This is the most an Englishman has achieved this feat in Tests. Cook’s highest aggregate of runs in a calendar year was 1364 runs from 14 Tests in 2015. He crossed 1,000 runs in 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2016 as well.

5,552 - Cook has scored 5,552 runs for England at home in Tests, which is the 2nd highest after Graham Gooch. He needs 366 more runs to overtake Gooch, who tops the list with 5,917 runs to his name.

4,896 - He has scored 4,896 runs in Tests away from home. This is the most by an Englishman.

1,235 - Cook has scored 1,235 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 51.45 against India in India. This is the most by an Englishman in India and second highest overall after Clive Lloyd, who scored 1,359 runs in 14 Tests in India.

2,104 - Cook has scored 2,104 runs against India in Tests, which is 5th highest overall after Ricky Ponting, Clive Lloyd, Javed Miandad and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

5 - Cook has scored 5 Test centuries in India which is the most by an overseas batsman.

10,430/240 - Cook has scored 10,430 runs as an opener in Tests which is the most by any opener in Test history. He has opened the batting in 240 innings in Tests, which is also the most number of innings anyone has opened in Tests.

4,869/57 - Cook has been a part of 57 Tests where England emerged victorious. He has scored 4,869 runs in these 57 Tests. Both of these are records for England.

2190/24 - Cook has won 24 Tests as captain of England, which is the joint second most with Andrew Strauss. Michael Vaughan leads the list for England with 26 victories. Cook’s aggregate of 2,190 runs in victories as Test skipper is the most for England.

4,844/59 - Cook has led England in 59 Tests which is the most by an Englishman. He has scored 4,844 runs in these 59 Tests which is also an English record. He is sixth on the overall list for runs scored as captain after Graeme Smith, Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, Clive Lloyd and Stephen Fleming.

12 - Cook has scored 12 centuries as skipper, which is the most by an English captain.

995 - Cook has scored 995 runs against South Africa in Tests. When he scores the remaining 5 runs, he will become the 13th Englishman and the 29th overall to score 1,000 runs against South Africa in Tests.

2,710/9 - Cook has scored 2,710 runs with 9 centuries in Tests in Asia. Both of these are records for a non-Asian batsman in Asia.

766 - Cook scored 766 runs for England against Australia in Australia in the 2010-11 season. This is the second highest number of runs by an Englishman in Australia after Wally Hammond’s 905 runs in 1928-29.

127.66 - Cook’s average of 127.66 in the above-mentioned series is the highest of anyone who has scored more than 200 runs in a Test series in Australia.

11,057 - Cook made his debut in Tests on 1st March 2006. He has scored 11057 runs in Tests since his debut. This is the highest by anyone since March 2006 and 2,594 runs more than Kumar Sangakkara, who is in second position.

There is no doubting Cook’s place in the pantheon of all-time great Test batsmen. If he can maintain his form and fitness, then he has a chance to challenge Sachin Tendulkar’s records of 200 Tests and 15,921 Test runs.

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