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Alastair Cook's five double hundreds

Alastair Cook's 244 not out at the MCG in January was his fifth England double hundred. We reflect on the great man's top five Test innings.

Alastair Cook has now scored five double hundreds in Test cricket, taking him to second place behind Wally Hammond who holds the England record with seven. Here we look back on Cook's five.

235* v Australia - Brisbane 2010

Perhaps the innings that set the tone for England's successful 2010/2011 Ashes tour. Cook ground the Australian bowling attack into the Gabba dirt as England drew the first match of the series having been 221 runs in arrears after the first innings.

294 v India - Edgbaston 2011

Cook's highest score to date, this remarkable innings helped England to a total of 710/7 declared with a hundred for Eoin Morgan and fifties for Strauss, Pietersen and Bresnan. England won by an innings and 242 runs on the way to a 4-0 series win and the top of the ICC Test rankings.

263 v Pakistan - Abu Dhabi 2015

Another huge feat of endurance, Cook's 263 in the heat of Abu Dhabi almost lead to a remarkable victory against Pakistan. Having conceded 523 in the first innings Cook's knock helped England secure a 75-run lead. Adil Rashid's 5-64 gave England a sniff of victory with 99 required in 11 overs, and captain Cook found himself batting at seven in the second innings as Jos Buttler was promoted to open. England fell agonisingly short of victory making 74/4. 

243 v West Indies - Edgbaston 2017

The inaugural Day-Night Test in England conditions was expected to provide a tough examination for opening batsmen. When debutant Mark Stoneman received a jaffa with the new pink ball, England looked to the experience of Cook to weather the storm. He did so admirably, and with customary hunger for runs ensured West Indies' inexperienced bowlers toiled for a day and a half. A three-day win ensued as England's seam attack exploited the favourable twilight conditions expertly.

244* v Australia - Melbourne 2017

With many questioning his appetite for the fight and the Ashes lost, England's most capped player had - by his standards - had a poor Ashes tour. Having turned 33 on Christmas Day the Boxing Day Test was perhaps the last chance saloon. At the end of day two he had a hundred, scored in the final over of the day. His 32nd three figure Test score was an innings of high class and technical excellence, as well as trademark endurance and mental resolve. Such was the emotion of this knock, few would have believed he'd be the last man standing on the third day. However, Cook wasn't satisfied and carried his bat for the entire day to make a genuine 'Daddy' hundred.