Five Greatest Moments of Alastair Cook's Career

#2 Desert Storm...almost

Cook was quick to channelize the stubborn grafter in him as he guarded his wicket for close to fourteen hours

After a spree of dominant results around the world, including against the No.1 ranked side India in 2011, England were shown a cruel descent by an aggravated Pakistani side playing on their adopted home of the United Arab Emirates, as they were blinded 3-0 in 2012.

Three years later, Cook led weakened, albeit determined side to England's land of horror and doom, ready to rectify the wrongs of Andrew Strauss.

However, a reality check was quick to arrive as England were made to toil for the better part of five sessions as Pakistan piled on 8/523.

It seemed as if the nightmares of 2012 were about to play all over again. But Cook was quick to channelize the stubborn grafter in him as he guarded his wicket for close to fourteen hours to pile misery and fatigue on the Pakistani bowlers. His 263 gave England a priceless 75 run lead.

It was in the third innings of the match that he made the real defining move. Adil Rashid, who despite bowling to defensive fields had been carted for 163 runs in the first innings, was persisted with by the skipper to surprisingly close catchers.

Rashid, instilled with confidence, sought some help from the Gods of the Wearing Subcontinental Pitch and engineered a staggering collapse, taking 5/64.

Had it not been for the controversial insufficient amount of photons emerging from the floodlight towers on the final day, England would have gone on to take a sensational 1-0 lead in the series and who knows what could have happened?