Alastair Cook set to break Sachin Tendulkar's 11-year-old record

England Test skipper Alastair Cook is just 36 runs away from becoming the youngest man in history to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, eclipsing the record of the Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar. The ‘Master Blaster’ set the record 11 years back in March 2005 against Pakistan in Kolkata, a little more than a month before his 32nd birthday.

Cook meanwhile, turned 31 on Christmas Day last year, and if he scores the required 36 runs in the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley, he will reach the 10,000-run-barrier five months younger than the batting legend.

The southpaw will also become the first English cricketer and 12th player overall to reach the 10,000-run milestone. Cook has scored 9964 runs in 126 test matches at a healthy average of 46.56. The opening batsman is revered all over the world for his rock-solid technique and fantastic temperament which made him a successful opener in the Test match history.

Alastair Cook has started the season in serious form with his county side Essex as he has already scored two centuries for them in First Class matches against Chelmsford and Hove. Cook will look to carry on his rich vein of form in the upcoming Test Series against Sri Lanka.

In terms of the number of innings taken to reach 10,000 runs, Lara, Sachin and Sangakkara hold the record of taking only 195 innings to reach the coveted milestone.

Cook has been one of the pillars of England batting since his debut in 2006 against India. He was one of the key players who helped England win the Ashes in Australia in 2011 as he amassed 766 runs in just seven innings at an astonishing average of 127.66.

As a captain too, Cook tasted success in the Ashes too as he won two Ashes series in 2013 and 2015 in England. He was also the captain of the England side which won a Test series in India in 2012. The skipper led his side from the front as he scored two crucial centuries in that series.

Cook will surely love to add this prestigious feather to his cap. It’s not every day that you get to break a record set by none other than Sachin Tendulkar.