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Alastair Cook

essex boy

Striker
Was his 2010 series in Australia, arguably the greatest ever series performance by an Englishman? I have just been looking at the scorecards from the series and note that the Australian side had Hussey, Ponting, Clarke, Haddin, Watson, Johnson et al so not the worse by any stretch

766 odd runs at 127 is quite remarkable IMO in Australia;s own back yard, unlikely to ever be bettered
 

Was his 2010 series in Australia, arguably the greatest ever series performance by an Englishman? I have just been looking at the scorecards from the series and note that the Australian side had Hussey, Ponting, Clarke, Haddin, Watson, Johnson et al so not the worse by any stretch

766 odd runs at 127 is quite remarkable IMO in Australia;s own back yard, unlikely to ever be bettered
It was outstanding but they were a bit transitional, pitches were flat and he just did what he does plunder loads of runs. I was as impressed with Vaughan against a frighteningly good Aussie team in the early 2000s.

Outstanding from Cook but it won’t be remembered in the same way as Bothams ashes that’s for sure
 
Was his 2010 series in Australia, arguably the greatest ever series performance by an Englishman? I have just been looking at the scorecards from the series and note that the Australian side had Hussey, Ponting, Clarke, Haddin, Watson, Johnson et al so not the worse by any stretch

766 odd runs at 127 is quite remarkable IMO in Australia;s own back yard, unlikely to ever be bettered
A phenomenal series in sharp contrast to the rest of his career against Australia where in 30 other tests he averaged 26. Like Anderson apart from one series he has struggled against Australia
 
A phenomenal series in sharp contrast to the rest of his career against Australia where in 30 other tests he averaged 26. Like Anderson apart from one series he has struggled against Australia

Which I guess highlights how well Wood has done home and away against them. Appreciative his longevity is not at the level of others

Going off topic, and not Jimmy bashing but it got me thinking who I would rank the best bowler ever all subject to opinion of course. I looked through all the stats and one stood out which was Wasim Akram. Moving the ball at will, left arm, could bat, had an aura, quick, very good strike rate, could bowl on all surfaces and played for a side who were never far from turmoil but produced consistently.

I did not see Malcolm Marshall or Michal Holding
 
Which I guess highlights how well Wood has done home and away against them. Appreciative his longevity is not at the level of others

Going off topic, and not Jimmy bashing but it got me thinking who I would rank the best bowler ever all subject to opinion of course. I looked through all the stats and one stood out which was Wasim Akram. Moving the ball at will, left arm, could bat, had an aura, quick, very good strike rate, could bowl on all surfaces and played for a side who were never far from turmoil but produced consistently.

I did not see Malcolm Marshall or Michal Holding
Akram, Marshall, McGrath, Steyn, Ambrose. They were better bowlers than Jimmy for their shorter periods in the game but his fitness, longevity and willingness to learn and improve of sub continent surfaces are an amazing achievement. The neck end of 700 wickets don’t take themselves.
 
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Akram, Marshall, McGrath, Steyn, Ambrose. They were better bowlers than Jimmy for their shorter periods in the game but his fitness, longevity and willingness to learn and improve of sub continent surfaces are an amazing achievement. The neck end of 700 wickets don’t take themselves.

Indeed they don't. However, against Jimmy in an era when tail enders can all hold a bat he cant. He was also afforded the opportunity of central contracts, not playing short form which players of other generations did not which helps with longevity. To me he cant bowl on flat wickets as this series has demonstrated (sub continent flat offers reverse swing). He is the best as what he does on wickets which offer assistance no argument from me on that and is a master of his craft.
 
It was outstanding but they were a bit transitional, pitches were flat and he just did what he does plunder loads of runs. I was as impressed with Vaughan against a frighteningly good Aussie team in the early 2000s.

Outstanding from Cook but it won’t be remembered in the same way as Bothams ashes that’s for sure

Vaughan's performance in 2002/03 goes under the radar as we were battered 4-1. It is the best batting performance in an Ashes series by an Englishman in my lifetime. Cook's numbers in 2010/11 are staggering, but Vaughan was doing it against McGrath, Warne, Lee and Gillespie whilst no one else could get a score.

Not only that, but he played with a controlled elegant aggression.
 
Vaughan's performance in 2002/03 goes under the radar as we were battered 4-1. It is the best batting performance in an Ashes series by an Englishman in my lifetime. Cook's numbers in 2010/11 are staggering, but Vaughan was doing it against McGrath, Warne, Lee and Gillespie whilst no one else could get a score.

Not only that, but he played with a controlled elegant aggression.
I agree at that stage I thought MV would go onto be an England great but he was better against that attack than Sri Lankan medium pacers :lol:
 
Indeed they don't. However, against Jimmy in an era when tail enders can all hold a bat he cant. He was also afforded the opportunity of central contracts, not playing short form which players of other generations did not which helps with longevity. To me he cant bowl on flat wickets as this series has demonstrated (sub continent flat offers reverse swing). He is the best as what he does on wickets which offer assistance no argument from me on that and is a master of his craft.
‘Going off topic and not Jimmy bashing but’ :rolleyes:
 
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