By Glen Robertson
ecb.co.uk looks back at some of Alastair Cook's best Test innings as he prepares to make his 100th appearance, including with an image gallery linked here.
104 not out v India, Nagpur 2006
Alastair Cook wasted little time in taking his opportunity, having flown to Nagpur as Marcus Trescothick's replacement. In his first Test knock, Cook recorded 60 as he opened alongside Andrew Strauss. While that was impressive, what happened in the second innings far surpassed it.
Facing the fearsome spin twins Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Cook played a blinder, patiently accruing a first Test century over a six-hour stint at the crease before England declared with him on 104 as they attempted to force victory.
That proved beyond them, but in Cook they had instantly found a replacement worthy of following in Trescothick's footsteps.
110 v Pakistan, The Oval 2010
Cook had gone eight Test innings without reaching the 30s. The fact they were all against Bangladesh and Pakistan on home soil did not bode well ahead of an Ashes series in Australia. At The Oval, Cook fell for just six in the first innings and one or two murmurs were to be heard about his place in the side. And while England would slip to a disappointing defeat in that Test, Cook emphatically answered the naysayers with a knock that kick-started a run of five hundreds and four fifties in his next 12 Test innings.
It was not the most fluent hundred of his career and he rode his luck at times, but he showed the fight and determination to claw his way to a 173-ball 110, while only three of his team-mates could reach double-figures.
235 not out v Australia, Brisbane 2010
Cook wandered out to the middle at Brisbane alongside Strauss with England in deep trouble in the opening Test of the 2010-11 Ashes. Having been bowled out for 260 on a superb batting wicket, the tourists had toiled in the field as their opponents piled on 481, with Mike Hussey displaying a masterclass for his 195. But Mr Cricket would have been mightily impressed by Cook's reply.
Over 10-and-a-half hours, facing 428 balls, Cook produced a textbook innings to compile a magnificent unbeaten double-hundred and surpassed the legendary Don Bradman to post the highest score at the Gabba.
Strauss and Jonathan Trott also enjoyed themselves, with 110 and 135 not out respectively, but it was Cook who took the plaudits as England secured a momentum-boosting draw.
294 v India, Edgbaston 2011
Remembering Cook's highest score will always bring frustration to the man himself and England cricket fans. India had been skittled out for 224, with the great Sachin Tendulkar managing to score just one run.
England and Cook offered the Little Master a lesson throughout two-and-a-bit days of the Test. Cook underpinned a gigantic 710 for seven declared with a magnificent 294, putting England on the brink of going 3-0 up in the four-Test series.
But six runs short of becoming only England's sixth triple-centurion and first since Graham Gooch in 1990, Cook chased at a wide delivery and could only pick out Suresh Raina at deep point.
As much of an annoyance as his dismissal was, it should not overshadow one of the great English Test innings.
190 v India, Kolkata 2012
Cook was leading his side for the first time since taking over from Strauss as England captain on a permanent basis, in a country England has not won in for 24 years.
Having levelled the series in Mumbai, with Cook scoring his second ton of the rubber, the tourists would go on to take a crucial lead with a seven-wicket win.
It was set up by Cook, who scored a superb 190 as England replied to India's 316 all out.
Again showing remarkable concentration levels, Cook batted for over eight hours, but also showed his attacking instincts with two sixes joining the 23 fours.
Nobody else made a hundred in the match; Cook was 10 runs away from doubling up. It was a captain's innings and put England on the cusp of a historic series win.