Cricket

ALASTAIR COOK continued his amazing march towards becoming England’s greatest century-maker of all time.

But day one of the series was dominated by the world’s coolest and most understated batsman.

Cook scored 114 not out as England seized complete command of the Investec First Test at The Oval.

The Essex left-hander sucked every drop of venom from the much-vaunted South Africa speed trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander.

England’s incredible, non-sweating man did not offer a chance, barely played a false shot and certainly did not need to mop his brow.

Cook notched up his 20th Test ton, making him only the eighth England batsman to reach the milestone.

He is now just two behind the record of 22 held jointly by Wally Hammond, Geoff Boycott and Colin Cowdrey.

At 27 years and 207 days, he became the second-youngest player from any country to score 20 Test centuries behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar.



Alistair Cook is very nice

Frustrated Strauss admits England were outplayed by South

Andrew Strauss admitted to regrets and frustrations after England were outplayed in all departments in their innings defeat against South Africa at the Kia Oval.
Ian Bell (55) did his best to try to salvage an unlikely draw on the final day. But Dale Steyn (five for 56) ensured the gulf in performance was duly converted into a trouncing, with a session to spare in the first Investec Test.
There is precious little room for manoeuvre now, in just two remaining matches - starting at Headingley next week - if England are to overturn the scoreline.

KEVIN PIETERSEN has no chance of playing for England again until he reveals exactly what he wrote in his texts about Andrew Strauss.

KP yesterday apologised for texting “provocative” comments about his captain to South African cricketers — but his bosses are in no mood to forgive until he comes clean about their content.


SunSport can reveal one text described Strauss as a “doos” — an Afrikaans word that literally means box but has other offensive uses.


KP also wrote that the Proteas could dismiss Test skipper Strauss by nicking off.


On another day of dramatic developments on the eve of the Third Test at Lord’s, it also emerged that:



Pietersen texted South Africa’s players during the First Test at the Oval AND Second Test at Headingley.


He might work for TV during the World Twenty20 because it seems certain he will not be there as a player.


Pietersen has gone on holiday as the crisis continues to rage.


When contacted last night, KP’s agent Adam Wheatley did not deny the word “doos” appeared in a text and added: “We must pick things up after the Test match has finished.”