Leeds: Alastair Cook became England’s highest-ever run-scorer in Test cricket when he broke the record of batting mentor Graham Gooch during the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday.
The 30-year-old left-handed opener started England’s reply to New Zealand’s first innings 350 on Saturday needing just 32 more runs to surpass Gooch’s mark of 8,900 runs in 118 Tests. At tea on the second day, the hosts were 163 without loss in reply to New Zealand’s first innings 350 — a deficit of 187 runs.
Cook, first coached by ex-England captain Gooch as a schoolboy, was batting on 71 while Adam Lyth put himself in sight of a maiden Test century on 80.
Cook, speaking on Thursday, insisted he was nowhere near Gooch’s class as a batsman and tried to play down the significance of the landmark.
“It would be a lovely moment. I wouldn’t put myself anywhere near in his class but it would be a great moment,” said Cook.
Cook added: “I wouldn’t be here, or anywhere near here, without Goochie’s help, so it will be slightly strange if I do go past his record because without his hard work and dedication to me and my game, I wouldn’t have scored half the runs I would have done.
“It’s a bit of a strange one. But there will only ever be one Graham Gooch. He’s England greatest-ever batsman.”
By going past Gooch, Cook moved up to 13th place on the all-time list of leading run-scorers in Test cricket, where retired India great Sachin Tendulkar remains way out in front with 15,921 runs in 200 matches.
Lyth was Cook’s sixth opening partner since the retirement of former captain Andrew Strauss, with Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson and Jonathan Trott all given a chance to fill the problem position.
However, the 27-year-old Lyth went some way to making the berth his own ahead of the Ashes as he helped Cook compile England’s first century opening stand in a home Test since Cook and Strauss added 186 against India at Edgbaston on 2011.
Cook, whose 162 at Lord’s last week was key to England’s victory, overtook Gooch when he square-drove Tim Southee for four.
A modest wave of the bat followed for, as Cook had made clear in the build-up to this match, it would not benefit his side much were he to break Essex predecessor Gooch’s record and get out soon afterwards.
Lyth then went to his fifty by hooking fast bowler Matt Henry in front of long leg for his seventh four in 112 balls.
Cook was less convincing in posting his fifty, an edged cut off Henry flying over the slips and down to the boundary to give the 30-year-old a ninth four in 118 balls.
Lyth then showed plenty of poise and touch to ease Trent Boult off the back foot through the covers for four.
New Zealand, who resumed on 297 for eight, thrashed 53 runs in just 7.1 overs on Saturday before they were bowled out. Some blazing tail-end hitting included Henry’s pulled six off paceman Stuart Broad.
But trying to repeat the shot next ball, Henry got a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and was out for 27, made off just 21 balls including four fours and a six.
And when Ben Stokes pitched up to Mark Craig, 14 not out overnight, the left-handed batsman drove him straight back over his head for six. Craig also square-cut Stokes for four to raise New Zealand’s 350.
