Cook breaks England runs record

Alastair Cook has surpassed Graham Gooch to become England’s leading Test run-scorer during day two of the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley.

Cook moved to 33* with a boundary through the off side shortly after lunch to go past Gooch’s long-standing record of 8,900 runs.

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Speaking ahead of the Test at Headingley, Cook admitted it will be a strange experience to statistically exceed the man who has helped mould his career since he was a schoolboy.

Cook also knows it will be no way to do Gooch justice if he stops there when England try to clinch the series 2-0 after their 124-run first Test win at Lord's.

At the prospect of going past Gooch, he said: "I wouldn't put myself anywhere near in his class, but it would be a great moment.

"However nice it would be - if I do score 30, 31, 32 or whatever it is to pass the great man - that won't be enough for the game."

Cook compiled a determined 162 in the second innings to shut the Black Caps out of the Lord's Test. His 27th Test hundred is four more than any other Englishman.

Aged 30, he has a hunger to score many more and make Gooch proud.

"Certainly, I wouldn't be here without Goochie's help.

"It will be strange if I do go past him because, without his hard work and his dedication to me and my game, I wouldn't have scored half the runs I have.

"But there will only ever be one Graham Gooch, and he is England's greatest batsman."