5 highest scoring Test innings of Alaistar Cook

Alastair Cook is a name that needs no introduction. The left-hander is one of the greatest Test cricketers of all-time. A career filled with a lot of accolades, he was the ICC Test Player of the Year in 2011. He is also the only England cricketer to score 7 centuries the 23rd birthday. Cook was the first England player to be involved in 50 Test wins.

In 160 Tests, Cook has scored 12242 runs at an average of 45.01 with 56 half-centuries and 32 centuries. He is on track to break Sachin's record of highest number of Test matches (200). Cook is a really good slip fielder and has taken 168 catches till date.

Cook is known for his delicious cut shots and on his day, he is a nightmare to even some of the world's best bowlers. We now take a look at five of Alastair Cook's highest-scoring Test innings.

#5 235* vs Australia, Brisbane, 2010

Australia v England

The 2010-11 Ashes series was in Australia and the England team was very hungry to win the series. In the first Test, Strauss won the toss and decided to bat first. Peter Siddle ripped through the England batting lineup as they got bundled out for just 260.

Australia in return scored 481, on the back of Hussey's 195 and Haddin's 136. The Hussey-Haddin duo built a partnership of 307 runs for the 6th wicket before the latter got out. With a huge first innings trail of 221 runs, England came out to bat in their second innings.

The top 3 English batsmen exploded with centuries in the second innings to score a total of 517/1 before they decided to declare. Cook had a major share in this as he scored his maiden double-century with 235 off 428 balls with 26 fours. He was involved in a first wicket partnership of 188 with skipper Strauss and 329-run second wicket partnership with Trott.

The Kangaroos in their second innings scored 107 for the loss of one wicket and the match was drawn. Cook was the Man of the Match for his maiden double-century that saved the game for England.

#4 243 vs West Indies, Edgbaston, 2017

In the 2017 Wisden Trophy at home, England were pitted against West Indies. In the first Test, Root won the toss and decided to bat first. England lost two wickets in quick succession and were reeling at 39/2. Alastair Cook then stitched a beautiful 248-run partnership for the third wicket with Skipper Joe Root to take England to 514. Alastair Cook hit his fourth double century of the career.

West Indies in return got out very cheaply for just 168 runs. England enforced the follow-on and the story was no different in the second innings as well. Windies got out for just 137 runs in the second innings and England won by an innings and 209 runs to jump to 1-0 lead in the 3-matches Test series.

Alastair Cook was the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock that set up the platform for the bowlers to come out and do their thing. England dropped 2nd Test and won the series-decider third Test at Lord's to win the series 2-1.

#3 244* vs Australia, Melbourne, 2017

In the much anticipated Ashes 2017-18 series, England lost the first three Test matches and Australia already clinched the series 3-0 with two matches remaining. England entered the fourth Test playing for pride with the fate of the series already decided. Australia won the toss and chose to bat first. They made 327 before they got all-out. Warner scored a century and Broad picked up 4 wickets.

When England out to bat in the first Innings, it was Cook's one-man show that caught everyone's attention. Cook played a beautiful knock of unbeaten 244 off 409 and carried the bat. England finished with 491 in their first innings.

Australia then scored 263/4 in their second innings and declared but the match ended in a draw. It was Cook who was awarded the Man of the Match award for his unbeaten 244 in the first innings. England then lost game 5 and Australia won the series 4-0.

#2 263 vs Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, 2015

England went to UAE to face Pakistan in a 3-matches Test series. The then captain, Alastair Cook lost the toss and England was put to field first. Pakistan made 523/8 before they decided to declare. Shoaib Malik exploded with 245 off 420. Stokes was the pick of the bowlers with 4/57.

England came out to bat with huge trail and it was Cook who once again stood tall. He made a very composed 263 off 528 and played a match-saving knock. The team went on to score 598/9 and declared after securing a lead of 70. This was Cook's first double century against Pakistan and third in his career.

In return, Pakistan got bundled out to everyone's surprise for just 173 runs. Adil Rashid shone with 5/64. England in their final innings came out to bat chasing 99 in 11 overs. They only managed to score 74 after losing 4 wickets and the match ended in a draw. Cook was once again handed the Man of the Match award for his match-saving knock of 263.

#1 294 vs India, Edgbaston, 2011

India visited England under Dhoni's captaincy in 2011 for Pataudi Trophy. England Annihilated and destroyed India in the first two Tests and entered the third Test at Edgbaston with high on confidence. England won the toss and chose to bowl first. India got bowled out for just 224 with Broad an Bresnan destroying Indian batting line-up with 4 wickets each. MS Dhoni was the top scorer with 77.

In reply, England made a very high 710/7 before they decided to declare. This came on the back of Cook's magnificent 294 off 545 balls with 33 fours and a very good Test strike rate of 53.94. The Cook-Eoin Morgan duo added a very crucial 222 run partnership before the latter got dismissed. This was Alastair Cook's second double-century in Test cricket.

India in its reply could only make 244 before they got bundled out. Anderson was the pick of the bowlers with 4/85. England won the game by an innings and 242 runs and clinched the series with a Test remaining. Alastair Cook was rightly adjudged the man of the match for his first innings heroics that gave England a huge 486 runs first innings lead.