Leeds, United Kingdom - England captain Alastair Cook may be on the verge of breaking Graham Gooch's England Test runs record but he insisted on Thursday that his mentor was still in a class of his own.
Cook, following his majestic 162 in England's 124-run win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, now needs just 32 more runs in the second Test at Headingley, starting on Friday, to surpass Gooch's mark of 8,900 Test runs.
If he does it in this match, it will mean Cook have got there in 114 Tests compared to Gooch's 118, although Gooch arguably faced more genuinely all-time great bowlers throughout his career.
"It would be a lovely moment. I wouldn't put myself anywhere near in his class but it would be a great moment," Cook told reporters at Headingly on Thursday regarding the prospect of overtaking Gooch's mark.
"However nice it would be if I do score 30, 31 32 or whatever it is to pass the great man that won't be enough for the game.
"If I'm lucky enough to get that it will be a moment I'll remember but if I am 30 not out it's important in a game situation I go on and get a big score," added the left-handed Cook, like the right-handed Gooch an Essex and England opening batsman.
AFP
