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Can Cook break Sachin's records?
24 Aug 2017
Former England Captain Alastair Cook is the front runner among currently active players who can break quite a few of Sachin Tendulkar's records.
While nobody can replace Tendulkar's place as the Cricket God, Cook has slowly but steadily been collecting accolades over the years.
It seems curious how good a job he has done, seemingly, under everyone's radar.
Let us find out more.
Cook is almost there
Most Test fifties
It is a little-known fact, that besides Sachin's record for the maximum number of centuries, he also holds the record for the number of 50s and 50+ scores.
With 119 50+ scores and 51 centuries, Sachin boasts one of the highest conversion rates in history.
Cook is doggedly following him with 86 50+ scores and 31 centuries.
They play long and hard
Most matches
Only seven players have played more than 150 Test matches for their countries and Sachin heads this list with 200 appearances.
Cook follows at a healthy distance at 145 Tests.
With England, playing the highest amount of Test cricket on an average in a calendar year, it shouldn't be long that Cook is in sniffing distance of this record.
The Run Machine and the Batsman
Most Runs
Sachin sits on a pile of runs in Tests with 15,921 runs to his credit.
Having played 200 Tests at his average, this incredible record is hardly surprising.
Cook is Sachin's most potent threat among active players.
Cook has already amassed 11,568 runs. Playing a few more years might take him past Sachin's threshold, though it might still be a long road ahead.
Most Runs at any batting position
Versatility
Sachin has the record for the highest runs scored at any position by scoring 13,492 runs batting at number 4 for India in Tests.
Alastair Cook, a traditional opener for England had made that position his own, scoring close to 10,000 runs already in that position.
Sachin's record is within his eyesight.
Most times declared out by LBW
Howwazat!
You don't play 200 Tests without picking up a few dubious records.
Sachin has plenty such, including the most number of dismissals (296) and most dismissals through LBW (63).
As of June 2016, Cook has been dismissed 42 times through the LBW appeal, only 21 times less than Sachin.
This is surprising given that Cook has played a lot less cricket than Sachin.
Cook: Is he the man to beat Sachin?
In conclusion
Cook is only 32, representing a country that plays the maximum number of Test matches in any given season.
If Cook overtakes Sachin in a few of the above departments, it won't come as much of a surprise.
Should he continue to score at the consistent rate that is a trademark of his career, he can surely reach the milestone.
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