Top 5 gritty knocks of Alastair Cook

#2 94 and 49* vs Sri Lanka – Colombo (2012)

Not a lot of people remember this Test match nor Alastair Cook’s performances. Sri Lanka were leading the two-match Test series 1-0 when the teams reached Colombo for the second and final Test.

On the back of Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka scored 275 batting first. England’s reply was led by Kevin Pietersen who scored a scintillating 151. But the innings was set up by the openers, and Alastair Cook in particular. The Essex left-hander grinded it out and scored a gritty 94. He shared a 122-run opening stand with Andrew Strauss to set up a solid platform.

Cook spent close to six hours at the crease as he faced 278 deliveries for his 94 before he fell to Tillakaratne Dilshan and missed out on a well-deserved ton.

Chasing 94 in the fourth innings, Cook scored an unbeaten 49 to guide England home and help them level the series.