It may have completely passed you by on the morning of Sunday, November 25th – a day dominated by two of the world’s most saturated sports had arrived; a huge day in Formula One and an oil derby in Fulham.
I forgive you if you did miss it though because it’s not your fault really, it’s just been a moment I’ve been waiting for, for what seems like a long time now. On the morning, on the other side of the world in India, Alistair Cook and Kevin Pietersen scored a century apiece to become joint top test centurions for England.
I know what you’re thinking, that was quite some build up for that tawdry reveal, well I beg to differ and I hope there are plenty of cricket fans out there who agree with me. Pietersen and Cook join the list of Wally Hammond, Colin Cowdray and Geoffrey Boycott on 22 centuries for England and both have a lot more to give.
In particular, Alistair Cook, who is 27 years of age, could smash that record, especially if you consider Vaughan retired aged 34.
Cook and Pietersen could not differ much more in playing style. Coming into the side for the 2005 Ashes series, Pietersen made a name for himself with immediate contributions, a series winning 158 at The Oval, and a blue Mohican that caused outrage among cricket’s traditionalists.
His unorthodox shot selection of left duffers clutches at the rulebook, and his personality is as divisive as any great sportsman’s should surely be.
Cook, on the other hand, arrived unannounced in comparison. His quality often showed through, but the intermittent periods were baron enough for a great many to call for change.
However, a gutsy knock of 110 against Pakistan kept him in the side in 2010. To describe what he did in Australia that winter would seem unnecessary, when I can simply tell you that he averaged 127.66 runs.
To have both playing in the same team is a dream. To ask for more right now would be greedy, but, in the words of The Veronicas, “I could get used to this”.