The impact of Cook's 294
Alastair Cook batted for more than 13 hours in England's first innings at Edgbaston and in the Daily Telegraph Scyld Berry writes that by batting for so long, for so many, Cook egged on his teammates to aspire to higher achievements — individual
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Alastair Cook batted for more than 13 hours in England's first innings at Edgbaston and in the Daily Telegraph Scyld Berry writes that by batting for so long, for so many, Cook egged on his teammates to aspire to higher achievements — individual ones and thus, such is the dual nature of cricket, collective ones.
So it was that Cook did not reach a triple-century. But one day a member of this extraordinary England side surely will, because Cook has shown them how.
In an age of instant gratification, Alastair Cook's powers of endurance and appetite for batting almost defies credibility writes David Hopps in the Guardian.
He does not spit defiance, contort his face with concentration, or scan cricket's records with selfish intent. He does not even sweat. He merely understands his limitations and plays, quite contentedly, entirely admirably, within them. For a very long time.
If you are England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower and you want to rule the world, and believe one sure-fire way of doing it is working a little "mental disintegration" on the opposition, Cook, the batting star of Bedford School who has become the most resilient pillar of England, is most assuredly your man, writes James Lawton in the Independent.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo