Nervous 290s: 7 times a batsman missed the 300-run mark while in the 290s 

#3 Alastair Cook vs India, 2011 - 294

Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook is undoubtedly one of the greatest batsmen of all time. His on-field feats have earned him a plethora of laurels, including a knighthood. Cook left the cricketing fraternity in awe of his sheer brilliance on numerous occasions, as the elegant left-hander amassed a total of 12,472 Test runs in his illustrious career.

Of those 12,472 runs, 294 came in 2011 when Cook registered his highest individual score by mauling the Indian bowling attack at Edgbaston. His partnership at the top with Andrew Strauss planted the seeds for a gigantic total as the hosts ended their first innings at the score of 710/7.

The only sad part of this marvelous innings was the fact that Cook missed out on a triple-century by just six runs.

Cook was deservingly named the Man Of The Match as England defeated India by an innings and 242 runs.