Alastair Cook was one step ahead of the South African bowlers, admits Allan Donald – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026, and admitted that the opening batsman outclassed the visitors on day one of the first of the three-match Test series at the Oval.
The Proteas started the match in an ideal fashion, picking up the prized wicket of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528 trapped the left-hander in front of the stumps. Cook however, took it upon himself to take his side
to the shores of safety, scoring a steady hundred to steer the English ship.
The 27-year-old remained unbeaten at close of play, having scored 114 runs with the help of 11 boundaries and a six off the bowling of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DW-Steyn-c1409, when the left-hander pulled him over the fine-leg fence.
Cricket experts have slammed the Oval pitch for being too flat, but Donald does not want to take credit away from the home team, who he thinks, batted sensibly and avoided any risks. The bowling coach was especially impressed by Cook and praised the
concentration level he showed against one of the world’s finest bowling attacks.
"Take nothing away from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013," said Donald. "They batted really well. I really thought that Alastair showed immense discipline and concentration. He made us come to him at times."
On the other side of the coin, Cook, who scored his 20th century in Tests, is over the moon with his performance. England’s batting coach and former captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Graham-Alan-Gooch-c60530, also had 20 centuries in his career and the left-handed opener is
delighted to have leveled his mentor’s record.
"It was very satisfying," expressed Cook. "When you come so close a few times - I think it's been a year since my last Test ton - it makes it a very special moment. It's nice to join Gooch. Clearly he was a great player, and to have the same amount
of centuries as him is special."
With a lot of cricketing years ahead of him, Cook is expected to break all the English batting records, taking into account the form he has shown over the last five years.
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