Stephen Cook becomes 100th cricketer to score 100 on Test debut

Stephen Cook becomes 100th cricketer to score 100 on Test debut

Stephen Cook created history, and justified the hype surrounding his selection as South African opener for the final Test against England for the fourth Test, when he brought up his century in his debut match. Cook is now the 100th batsman in the history of Test cricket to score 100 on debut, as well as the sixth South African to do so. Cook brought up his milestone after facing 187 deliveries, hitting 12 boundaries during his innings. The 33-year-old also became the fourth-oldest to score a century on debut, the record of which is currently held by Australia’s Adam Voges, who scored 130 not out on debut against West Indies last year. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa vs England 2015-16, 4th Test at Centurion, Day 1

Cook’s fabulous innings helped put South Africa in a commanding position, sharing a 202-run stand for the sec0nd wicket with Hashim Amla, who himself shone with the bat to bring up his 25th Test ton. Amla was bowled for 109 by Ben Stokes, with skipper AB de Villiers departed for a two-ball duck shortly after, before Cook finally got to his milestone. The right-handed batsman got to his milestone after sending a delivery from Stokes towards midwicket to collect a couple of runs, with his father Jimmy Cook, mother and other family members joining the local crowd in celebrations. LIVE CRICKET UPDATES: South Africa vs England 2015-16, 4th Test at Centurion, Day 1

Cook was added by the South African selectors for the fourth and final Test following the Proteas’ disastrous defeat at the hands of the visitors in the third Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Cook had been among the most prolific run-getters in South African domestic cricket for for the last seven years, which had led to several voices calling for his selection into the Proteas side.

Following is the full list of cricketers to have scored a century on Test debut:

Meanwhile, Cook also became the fourth-oldest cricketer to score a century on Test debut, the record for which belongs to Australia’s Adam Voges. Following is the list of the oldest players to score a century on debut:

South Africa earlier won the toss and made five changes to their team — Stephen Cook, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock, Dane Piedt and Kyle Abbott coming in place of Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis, Dane Vilas, Chris Morris and Hardus Viljoen. England, on the other hand, brought Chris Woakes in place of the injured Steven Finn in their only change to their winning combination from the third Test at the Wanderers.