Alastair Cook hits a run off the bowling of Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf during the day one of the first Test
The iconic Lord's Test between England and Pakistan became more pleasing for England's seasoned opener Alastair Cook equalled Australian legend Allan Border's record of playing most number of consecutive Test matches for his country. Cook is currently playing 153rd consecutive Test match of the England captain who has been the backbone of the England Test side from past many years. Cook has been taunted as the best Test batsman in the history of England Cricket.
The left-handed opener made his Test debut against India in 2006, where he announced his arrival in international cricket with an excellent century. After playing his debut Test, Cook suffered illness due to which he was rested for the next game. However, after that Cook has been part of the England squad without being dropped.
Border also congratulate Cook on the iconic feat. "I didn't realise anyone was getting that close in terms of consecutive Test matches, but it is an amazing thing," Border told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper. There are some more similarities between both players as they both are left-handers and have scored with over 11000 runs in Test cricket.
In the ongoing Test match, Cook held England's innings together on Thursday after Pakistan took three cheap wickets before lunch to leave the home team on 72/3 on the opening day of the first Test at Lord's. Playing a record-levelling 153rd consecutive Test match, the left-hander led the rebuilding job after England's poor start, although his progress was slowed by the time Amir produced a delivery that shaped in and seamed away to hit the top of the batsman's off stump.
Cook's resistance ended when he was batting for 70 as England reached tea on 165/5 against Pakistan on Thursday on the opening day of the first Test at Lord's.
Earlier, Pakistan's seamers bowled good line and length, sparking a familiar top-order collapse that left England on 43/3 and then 100/4 under brightening skies in north London.
