Alastair Cook can go past Sachin Tendulkar, insists Ian Botham

02/07/2017

Sir Ian Botham has claimed that Alastair Cook is the only current player who can go past Sachin Tendulkar's record of most runs in Test cricket. Botham believes that having relinquished his captaincy, the 32-year-old will be able to concentrate on his batting responsibilities once again.

While Tendulkar sits atop the list of all-time run scorers in Tests with 15,921 runs, Cook reached the top-ten list with 11,057 runs - the youngest player to reach the 11,000 milestone. After a humiliating defeat to India in the 2016 Test series where he reached the milestone, he, however, has decided to step down as the team's captain after 59 games in charge. Ian Botham, however, sees a big positive in this and feels that Cook can now chase down Sachin's record given he doesn't have to worry about the team.

"He is probably the only man in world cricket at the moment who could go past Sachin Tendulkar. I don't see anyone else getting closer to him at the moment but records are there to be broken," Sir Ian told SkySports in an interview.

Cook became the first captain to lead an English team to victory on Indian soil since 1984-85, when a David Gower-led side won the series 3-1. He then led England to a 3-0 Ashes win against Australia and won home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka as well.

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When asked about how Cook would be remembered as a captain, Botham replied, "You can take the two Ashes victories or even the victory in India, which not many people do - as we saw this winter."

"He's going to be remembered as England's highest ever run-scorer and he still has time to improve on that.

"Alastair Cook should be remembered for his achievements. When he first came into the England side, he got off a plane after coming three-quarters of the way around the world, walked out in Nagpur and got a hundred on debut.

"He's had a few highs and a few lows but you do that as a player and as a captain. He's got more good memories than bad memories."

Botham went on to add that Joe Root is the only player capable of replacing Cook as the captain of the side.

"I think he's quite looking forward to standing at second slip, picking his nose and looking at Joe Root and saying 'it's over to you now, mate. Because I'm sure it will be Joe Root who will take over - there's no-one else there," Botham said.

"Alastair can stand at slip, chill out and enjoy the next couple of years. Sometimes a change like this can refresh you."