Rating 10 Test batters of last decade

4. Alastair Cook (8.9/10)

Alastair Cook played excellent Test cricket in his international career and became the most successful batter for England in red-ball cricket, with 12472 runs in 291 innings of 161 Tests. He announced his retirement from international cricket after playing the Test series against India in 2018. The skilled left-handed batter became the Test batter with the most runs in the last decade, scoring 8818 runs in 201 innings of 111 Tests.

His best performance came against Australia in the Ashes 2010-11. In England’s 3-1 triumph, the England southpaw became the Player of the Series for scoring 766 runs in seven innings of five Tests. In 2012, England clinched a Test series win in India after 28 years under Cook’s captaincy. 

Leading the side from the front, the southpaw hit 562 runs in eight innings of four matches and guided his team to a spectacular victory. He also became the Player of the Series for his marvellous batting efforts. In 2011, England whitewashed India in a four-match Test series played in the former’s backyard. 

Cook, who failed to provide anything solid from his bat in the first two Tests, produced his best Test innings of 294 in the third Test in Birmingham. Riding on his unprecedented knock, England registered an innings and 242-run win over India. Cook also became the Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for his brilliant batting display in 2011.