Ahead of the Third Investec Test Match between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston, we’ve looked at a number of key battles that will ultimately decide the outcome of the match. This week we look at the captains, it’s Alastair Cook against Misbah-ul-Haq who have both already recorded superb centuries to their names in the current series.
Alastair Cook – Only Englishman to have scored 10,000 Test runs
By the time of his 25th birthday on Christmas Day 2009 he had scored far more runs (3536 to David Gower’s 2548) and centuries (nine to Ian Botham’s six) than any other Englishman of a comparable age. Alastair Cook is only the 12th batsman ever to reach 10,000 Test runs; the first player to do so for England. Cook’s highest score came here at Edgbaston in 2011 when he scored 294 against India and led England to the top of the ICC World Test Rankings. Cook is now England’s all-time highest run-scorer as Test captain who leapfrogged Atherton (3815).
Alastair Cook is only the 12th batsman ever to reach 10,000 Test runs; the first player to do so for England.
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Those in the know were saying that the tall, dark and handsome Alastair Cook was destined for great things very early on, and on the Ashes tour of 2010-11, he came good on a host of promises, scoring an incredible 766 runs in seven innings to anchor England’s first series win in Australia for 24 years. In so doing, he went past 5,000 Test runs – the second youngest batsman to reach the landmark after Sachin Tendulkar. Two years later and further records had been broken as he became England’s leading Test century-maker – hitting No. 23 against India in Kolkata, his third in three matches – and the youngest player to pass 7000 runs.
It had seemed inevitable, from the moment he scored a hundred on debut against India in 2006, that he would have a prolific career and captain his country. The leadership came firstly when Andrew Strauss was rested for the Bangladesh tour in 2010, then the ODI side in 2011 before he took full control of the Test team in 2012 after Andrew Strauss’ retirement. He has established himself as one of the best England captains and will be looking to lead England to a series victory over Pakistan – he has already contributed well with scores of 81 at Lord’s and a magnificent 105 at Old Trafford in this series.
Misbah-ul-Haq – Pakistan’s danger man
Misbah-ul-Haq was born on 28 May 1974 and is the current Pakistan Test captain. The right handed batsman has had a fantastic career and has established himself as one of Pakistan’s greatest players. For his country he has made 62 Test Match appearances and scored 4,466 runs at an average of 49.07. He has hit 10 centuries and 32 half centuries during his Test career so far. He is Pakistan’s danger man and proved once again his quality by hitting a superb century at Lord’s in the first Test Match to guide his side to a victory over England in the current series.
reputation as a composed player able to play the big shots when required.
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Since making his International debut in 2001 against New Zealand, the batsman has earned a reputation as a composed player able to play the big shots when required. His captaincy has helped lift Pakistan from the depths of the spot-fixing saga and his calm approach was exactly what his nation needed at the time.
As a batsman, Misbah can defend or irritate opponents with sheer class and improvisation. He truly established himself in 2011 and became a world-class batsman as he led Pakistan to one of their greatest Test series wins 3-0 over the then No.1 side England in early 2012.
See the Captains in action next week
These two world class players and captains go head-t0-head at Edgbaston next week in the third Investec Test Match with both already recording centuries to their names in series so far. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online by clicking here or calling 0844 847 1902.
