Alastair Cook scores fitting farewell century on red letter day for England

• England vs India, fifth Test: scoreboard from the Oval

• Vaughan: Cook’s last hurrah is up there with the final session of the 2005 Ashes

• Final Test centurions: the elite club Alastair Cook joins after signing off with a hundred

Only one or two more standing ovations for Alastair Cook still to go. Then, England’s leading Test run-scorer, and the opening batsman with the highest Test run-aggregate, can return to the team room one last time and release his many emotions, primarily satisfaction.

And there, in retirement, Cook should stay – except for one circumstance. He should not be persuaded to carry on in Sri Lanka and the West Indies, even though he no doubt has more runs in him and even a 34th century. For Cook ­cannot go out on a higher or more triumphant note than he did here, cheered to the echo – “Ally Cook, Ally Cook, Ally Ally Cook!” rang from the terraces – and as admired as any English cricketer could be.

Nobody else has scored a fifty and a hundred in both his first Test and his last, as Cook has done. Therefore, he has ended as he began, back in Nagpur 12 years ago, and this final century – unlike his first, which was slower – has set up England to beat India emphatically on day five and take this series 4-1. 

Throw in a couple of catches, whether at bat-pad or slip, and Cook would have a share in the world-record of 15 catches in a series and even more satisfaction, because it would prove he was a team man until the end. If Cook carried on, however, he would surely live to regret, because no farewell could be finer than this one – whereas if he retires, he can live into old age with his laurels and his memories unsullied. 

No niggling recollection of chopping on against Rangana Herath in Colombo, or being bounced out by Kemar Roach in Barbados, or dropping a vital slip catch, or critics ­saying he had stayed on too long. But still at his peak, his reflexes as yet unimpaired by time.

Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket, has claimed Cook to be England’s greatest cricketer – and this loyalty to an old opening partner is admirable. 

Cook is great in his longevity, for playing 159 Tests in a row, 161 in all; he is great, too, in his self-control, for it was unbelievable that anybody could focus on making a century in his circumstances and do so; he is also great in his loyalty to his team-mates.

Social historians might even come to recognise Cook as one of the last of his kind in British public life: so decent and calm, without ego and straight, in an age which often smiles on mendacity. Objectivity will intrude, though, to say that a great batsman – even a great opening batsman – has to dominate bowling attacks. Cook’s mentor, Graham Gooch, did so, ­especially when West Indies were world champions, as did Jack Hobbs before the First World War, and Len Hutton before the Second. 

Which made it lovely that Cook bowed out with one of his most ­fluent innings – not crabbed, not nudging along at one run an over, which has been known, but as if a weight had been removed from his shoulders.

Picking up on 46 overnight, Cook added 101 off only 161 balls to set up Joe Root’s declaration and James Anderson’s attempt on Glenn McGrath’s Test wickets record.

The sun shone on Cook to make batting easier than at any time in this match or series. Better than three cheers were the first two balls of the day, which he crisply clipped for one and four. That brought up his fifty, and banked a worthy Test average of 45.

A single stabbed – all right, let us say caressed – shot to midwicket took Cook to 76, and into fifth place among the all-time Test run-scorers, ahead of the Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara, lately of Surrey’s parish. So, no left-handed batsman had made more. 

Cook had some luck in that Ishant Sharma, his main tormentor in this series, damaged his left ankle and hobbled off after one over, but he still had to contend with Mohammed Shami’s swing, and Jasprit Bumrah’s bouncers, and Ravindra Jadeja firing into the rough.

A straight drive off Bumrah took Cook to 95, a leg glance to 96. He squeezed another single off Jadeja to point, prompting Bumrah to throw at the bowler’s end, where Jadeja was watching and nobody backing up, so four overthrows took Cook to 101. It mattered not whether he reached the summit with a triumphant stride or by stumbling over the line, simply that he did.

Cook removed his helmet, touched his ear and looked up to the heavens, just as he had done for the 32 previous hundreds, commemorating – or so it is believed because he has never revealed – a childhood team-mate who died.

Then, cheer after cheer, roar ­after roar. Almost two minutes the ovation lasted. It would have ­continued if Cook had milked the moment but that was never his style. He walked down the pitch, and patted it, to indicate that business should be resumed. Root had a century of his own to make, and England a match to win.

Cook matched Root run for run in their third-wicket stand of 259, handing on the baton to his successor once and for all. Root’s 14th Test hundred was his first for a year and a thing of handsomeness. England captains past and present were dismissed by consecutive off-breaks, Cook dragging himself away after edging a cut to the keeper. Ben Stokes, Sam Curran and Adil Rashid weighed in, Curran hitting the fifth six in his fledgling Test career, whereas Cook hit 11 all told.

Anderson, when he pinned a couple of India’s top batsmen like butterflies, drew level with McGrath’s 563 Test wickets: one of India’s last seven will make Anderson the pace bowler with the most Test wickets. Virat Kohli’s first-ball dismissal – in his fatigue he had forgotten how to leave – was just another detail instead of the headline.

That sole circumstance? If, this time next year, an England opening batsman is injured and a replacement required. The England veteran coming out of retirement to defeat Australia, whether Wilfred Rhodes or Cyril Washbrook or Denis Compton, has been a theme of Ashes cricket. Called up from his farm, with the oldest enemy at the gate, could someone with such an exemplary sense of duty say no?

6:12PM

CLOSE: IND 58/3 Chasing 464 for victory

England are seven wickets away from a 4-1 series victory after an epic day's play that treated us to centuries for Alastair Cook, and Joe Root and ended it with a sumptuous opening spell from Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. A word too for Mohammed Shami and Ravi Jadeja, who did their countrymen proud with the ball, and Lokesh Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane, who averted a crisis. We will have Scyld Berry's report of a terrific day here imminently. Thanks for your company. 

6:08PM

OVER 18: IND 58/3 (Rahul 46* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

The crowd is running through the Alastair Cook repertoire and breaks only to cheer when he field a Rahane forward defensive at short leg. Moeen has two slips, a silly point, short leg and leg slip for the last over of the day but Rahane plays out a maiden with no drama despite the Barmy Army's best attempts to fake one. 

6:07PM

OVER 17: IND 58/3 (Rahul 46* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

Stokes leans too far over to the offside and fires his inswinger on to Rahul's pads. The batsman flicks it fine for four off his ankle. But then Stokes regains his balance and delivers a handsome straightener that beats Rahul's edge as the batsman fenced at it. Stokes says he heard something on the way through but there was no spike on the mic. He heard something after delivering the last ball, a sumptuous, floaty pie that Rahul lamped through the covers for four. It was the sound of his foot kicking a crater out of the grass in indignation.

6:01PM

OVER 16: IND 50/3 (Rahul 38* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

Moeen has switched ends to close the day and he immediately extracts some turn out of the rough to the right-handers. Rahul rocks back to punch a single through cover and Rahane almost plays on when he defends with an angled bat. The ball bounces, skips and spins backwards to clear the stumps by about three inches. Two overs to go. 

5:58PM

OVER 15: IND 49/3 (Rahul 37* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahane counters Stokes with discretion , defending two and leaving two tempters after Rahul got off strike with a leg bye. 

5:55PM

OVER 14: IND 48/3 (Rahul 37* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

Maiden for Curran, beating Rahane with a ripper last ball that pitches on middle and leg and sears past the edge. Nothing so far for Moeen so England turn to Ben Stokes, Rahane's tormentor, for a dart before the close. 

5:53PM

OVER 13: IND 48/3 (Rahul 37* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

Risky cut with a bat at 225 degrees by Rahul that clumps off the bottom edge and whistles past the stumps towards short third man. They scamper a single and then another when Rahane opens the face and slaps through gully. Rahul, spying the big gap square on the offside, crouches to sweep, reverses his hands and skelps it through point for four. Here's the great Nick Newman's take on Cook's leaving:

5:46PM

OVER 12: IND 42/3 (Rahul 32* Rahane 9*) Chasing 464 for victory

Curran takes time to crank up his speed at the end of the day. The trumpeter is at it again. Oh, joy. Rahul plays three expansive forward defensives then check drives to mid on for a single. Rahane tries a drive too but can't pierce the offside ring. 

5:43PM

OVER 11: IND 41/3 (Rahul 31* Rahane 9*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahul pushes a single off the off-spinner down to the point sweeper and Rahane defends the remaining five balls of the over. Some turn for Moeen, striking Rahane's inside edge on its way to his pad, but the gate was firmly shut. Double change. Sam Curran will replace Broad. 

5:38PM

OVER 10: IND 40/3 (Rahul 30* Rahane 9*) Chasing 464 for victory

Broad's induckers to the right-handers are picked off, Rahane tucking his behind square for a single and Rahul, invitingly planting that left leg, on-driving it down to long on for three. Moeen has been warming up for 10 minutes after going off the field for an over and is going to come on. 

5:33PM

OVER 9: IND 36/3 (Rahul 27* Rahane 8*) Chasing 464 for victory

At 28 for three and India 436 short with seven wickets left, Anderson persuades Root to take a slip out and put him on the point boundary. He's an odd cove, Jimmy. The greatest of bowlers but I'll never understand his adherence to bowling dry on days like this. Anderson continues to pitch up and Rahul swings hard at it and edges it high over the slips for four, then dabs four more in the gap between second slip and gully. 

5:29PM

OVER 8: IND 28/3 (Rahul 19* Rahane 8*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahane, India's best batsman here in 2014, has looked pretty good against everyone but Ben Stokes in this series and smokes a cover drive square for four off Broad. The England bowlers are straining for swing, pitching it up, but there is little movement so far with the new ball. Shape but not movement. 

5:26PM

OVER 7: IND 24/3 (Rahul 19* Rahane 4*) Chasing 464 for victory

And should you want to emulate Sir Mick and donate to Chance to Shine, which does terrific work, you can do so here. 

I'm not going to jinx Rahul by writing it, but I am thinking it. The opener drills a cover drive for four off Anderson then on-drives for three, playing the outswinger and inswinger with an equally straight bat. Both glorious shots. 

5:23PM

OVER 6: IND 15/3 (Rahul 12* Rahane 2*) Chasing 464 for victory

We mentioned Sir Mick Jagger's pledge to donate money to Chance to Shine on Friday's over by over. Here are the details of his contributions so far:

Rahul is going to chance his arm - there's a certain fatalism that can help batsmen in a crisis and here he murders a square cut, steals a single for Rahane, calling his partner through for a tip and run, then drives a single to cover.   

5:17PM

OVER 5: IND 8/3 (Rahul 7* Rahane 0*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahul dices with danger by whipping a straight ball through square leg for two, a stroke that places a large bullseye for Anderson on the batsman's front pad. Anderson has equalled Glenn McGrath's 563 Test wickets, the record for a quick bowler and wants to overtake the Pigeon in style - he's up to 87mph in this over. Rahul carves a cut over the cordon for four then is hit on the pad which diverts it on to his thigh pad en route to first slip. England, encouraged by the two sounds, review but Joel Wilson  is a very sound umpire and not to be overruled. 

 Broad trolled him, Nick. 

5:11PM

England review

Rahul c Cook b Anderson Was there an inside edge on to his pad before diverting it to slip? No. Now they'll check for lbw. Too high. 

5:09PM

OVER 4: IND 2/3 (Rahul 2* Rahane 0*) Chasing 464 for victory

Harbhajan thinks carrying the batting for so long and being in the field for more than a day has finally caught up with Virat. Rahane defends a couple from Broad, leaves another and squirts a push to slip. Shades of this famous second innings at Headingley in 1952 here.  

5:03PM

Wicket!

Kohli c Bairstow b Broad 0Gone for a golden duck. Understandably discombobulated by the events of the day and having been in the field for 112 overs, he fished at one he would normally have scoped through the covers and nicked off. FOW 2/3

5:03PM

OVER 3: IND 1/2 (Rahul 0* Kohli 0*) Chasing 464 for victory  

This could be a quick demise.

5:00PM

Wicket!

Pujara lbw b Anderson 0 A double wicket maiden for Anderson. Pujara, too, is pinned plumb on the front leg below the knee roll. He eventually decided to review but had run out of time which is a blessing because it would have been an entirely spurious waste. FOW 1/2

4:56PM

Wicket!

Dhawan lbw b Anderson 1Undone by the inswinger. He planted his front leg and tried to improvise a whip through the onside but the bat hit his toe and he lost his balance as the ball arrowed into his shin. He thought about a review but demurred. FOW 1/1

4:56PM

OVER 2: IND 1/0 (Rahul 0* Dhawan 1*)

Dhawan, who resisted judiciously at Trent Bridge and the Ageas Bowl for quite a while until his chasteness crumbled, leaves two then glides a single off an open face through point. It is the only damage down to Broad who is bowling very full. Rahul sizes him up with a couple of defensives and lets the one that angles across him, aiming for the leg-side strangle, go. 

4:52PM

OVER 1: IND 0/0 (Rahul 0* Dhawan 0*)

Rahul takes first hit against Anderson and leaves the two outswingers, defends a couple of the straighter ones with a dead bat then chases a wide, short one, trying to clothes prop it with a square cut but he cannot reach it. It was there to be smashed but was too wide and ends up making him look bad. Bairstow pretends he edged it by throwing it up, playing with the batsman's confidence. Maiden for Anderson. 

4:44PM

Out come the players

And Alastair Cook receives his fourth standing ovation of the day, his seventh of the match. 

4:43PM

ENG 423/8 declared

India will chase 464 to win the fifth Test and tighten England's margin to 3-2. Far more likely is an England victory but Cook and Anderson will remember Mumbai in 2008 when India cased down 387 comfortably. Sachin had quite a lot to do with that, though. 

4:36PM

Wicket!

Curran c Pant b Vihari 21Six and out. The previous ball was dispatched over cover, T20 style, with a spanking, slightly smeared, drive after clearing his front leg. He tried to do it again but mistimed it. The ball took the top edge and arced into the leg side, giving the keeper time to jog over and pouch it. As soon as he fell, England declared. FOW 423

4:35PM

OVER 111: ENG 417/7 (Curran 15* Rashid 20*) 

Rashid's Pinball Wizard wrists at play in this over as he takes Jadeja for 12 with a sweep that brings him two over slip off the top-edge as the rough makes the ball grip and rip. Of the next three scoring shots two are truer - four speared over the bowler's head with a stand and deliver stance and four sliced behind point - but one was another spawny top edge through point for two. 

4:32PM

OVER 110: ENG 405/7 (Curran 15* Rashid 8*) 

For the first time since the Boxing Day Test, nine Tests ago, England have made 400 and it's Rashid who brings it up with a late cut for two then cover drives Vihari, the off-spinner, for four. 

4:28PM

OVER 110: ENG 398/7 (Curran 15* Rashid 1*) 

Stokes thrashes a six, no footwork, over long on, bludgeons four through cover then  holes out. Enter Rashid who gets off the mark with a check drive through cover. 

4:26PM

Wicket!

Stokes c Rahul b Jadeja 37 Six, four, out. Smashed it straight down deep midwicket's throat after going down on to one knee. No declaration. I presume England are carrying on just to show they haven't forgotten what 400 looks like. FOW 397/7

4:24PM

OVER 109: ENG 387/6 (Stokes 27* Curran 15*) 

Stokes throws the kitchen sink and the mangle at a drive outside off-stump and sends it sailing over the slips off a thick edge for four then flays one off the outside half of his bat through cover for a single. Declaration batting. They have gone at seven an over since tea. 

4:19PM

OVER 108: ENG 380/6 (Stokes 22* Curran 14*) 

Stokes strikes Vihari a nasty blow on the helmet, roughly above his right eyebrow. He larruped the slog sweep with such power that it must have dazed the debutant. Stokes, as you would expect, rushes straight over to put an arm round the fielder and stayed there in genuine concern until he was given the all clear by the physio. When we resume Stokes dabs a single down to third man and Curran whacks a square cut to the boards, beating the sweeper. 

Proving that KP has far more class than his mate Morgan, the worst 'friend' English cricket has ever had. 

4:15PM

OVER 107: ENG 373/6 (Stokes 20* Curran 9*) 

Shami beats Stokes outside off with a beauty and ends the over by beating Curran all ends up with one that fizzes away. He must feel that there's no justice in the world but he carries on smiling in something more benevolent than sheer frustrated bemusement. Inbetween Stokes tonks two singles down to backward point, Curran makes the same sweeper work for his run and Stokes plays a glorious on-drive for four. He timed it so sweetly it made the most satisfying 'thwock' - music to the ears of Messrs Gunn & Moore.   

4:08PM

 OVER 106: ENG 366/6 (Stokes 14* Curran 8*) 

Ravindra Jadeja, who has been a mensch all match and should have played all five Tests, resumes after tea for his 43rd over of the innings and 73rd of the match. He uses all his class and guile to restrict Curran and Stokes to a single apiece, Curran's off the inside-edge, his fellow left-hander, a back-foot shovel to long on. 

4:02PM

TEA: ENG 364/6 

Rob Bagchi here for the last knockings of day four. How many do they need for the declaration - given that they're leading 3-1 and not 2-1 or drawing 1-1, I'd say they have enough to make a game of it and give India some incentive. They'll probably have a hit and giggle for 40 minutes or so and then put India in? Unless India bowl them out, of course. 

3:45PM

OVER 105: ENG 364/6 (Stokes 13* Curran 7*)   

The last over before tea. Curran times a push well through the on side for two. Play and a miss from Stokes - Shami stood there with his hands on his hips. Batsmen now heading off for tea - four wickets in the session for India as England add on 121. No word of a declaration, yet...

3:39PM

OVER 104: ENG 361/6 (Stokes 13* Curran 4*)  

Singles for Curran and Stokes take England's lead to 400. A very daunting total to chase down for India with tea approaching. One more over to come.

3:36PM

OVER 103: ENG 358/6 (Stokes 12* Curran 2*) 

Shami finds the edge, but it drops short of Kohli. Well short, in fairness. One more off the over for young Curran.

Another edge and again it drops short of Kohli! Poor, poor Shami.

3:33PM

OVER 102: ENG 357/6 (Stokes 12* Curran 1*)

Curran next up and he adds a single. England's lead just shy of the 300 mark.

Here are the thoughts of Scyld Berry on Cook's glorious swansong.

3:30PM

WICKET! Buttler c Shami b Jadeja 0

Buttler also heading back after skying one... or is he? Umpires want to check the no ball - the back of the foot never touches the ground but looks OK. Buttler heads back. FOW 356/6

3:27PM

WICKET! Bairstow b Shami 18

Stumps clattered! Shami completely deserves that. Bairstow had previously hit a four, while India had conceded give penalty runs after the ball hit the helmet, but he's walking now after a costly inside edge. England five down. FOW 355/5

3:21PM

OVER 100: ENG 344/4 (Stokes 10* Bairstow 13*)     

And that's the 100th over. Just a single for Bairstow. Lead now 384. 400 should be enough, you would imagine.

3:18PM

OVER 99: ENG 343/4 (Stokes 10* Bairstow 12*)    

Twelve from the over, two fours for Stokes through the on side doing the damage at the end. England perhaps about to lift the tempo?

3:13PM

OVER 98: ENG 331/4 (Stokes 1* Bairstow 9*)   

Stokes also off the mark. Bairstow then clubs one over mid on for four. Reached for it, found the turn, dispatched it. Jadeja otherwise keeps him honest.

3:10PM

OVER 97: ENG 326/4 (Stokes 0* Bairstow 5*)  

Runs for Bairstow, short ball cut away for four. 

The final farewell for Cook. Hard to imagine him receiving a better reaction from the crowd.

3:05PM

OVER 96: ENG 322/4 (Stokes 0* Bairstow 1*) 

Bairstow avoids the pair with a single off the last ball from Jadeja.

3:03PM

OVER 95: ENG 321/4 (Stokes 0* Bairstow 0*)

Vihari, out of nowhere, is on a hat-trick. Stokes however survives, blocking him out.

3:01PM

WICKET! Cook c Pant b Vihari 147

It's over!Edge from Cook, into the gloves of the keeper and there's a rapturous reception. What a knock to finish off an exemplary career. Every India player coming up to shake Cook's hand. Was a very good catch by Pant. Standing ovation and rightly so.

3:00PM

WICKET! Root c Pandya b Vihari 125

The England captain's gone. Huge slog and the man out in the deep plucks it. Bairstow coming in on a pair. FOW 321/3

2:59PM

OVER 94: ENG 321/2 (Cook 147* Root 125*) 

Two more again! Jadeja very excited but there's no elbow on that.

2:56PM

OVER 93: ENG 319/2 (Cook 146* Root 124*)

Two more. Slow torture this for the tourists.

2:55PM

OVER 92: ENG 317/2 (Cook 145* Root 123*)                  

Just the two runs off Jadeja. This lead could get up to 500 quite easily.

2:53PM

OVER 91: ENG 315/2 (Cook 144* Root 122*)                 

Clever little scoop for a single by Root. That's the 250 partnership. Three for Cook, shifting towards that 150 very nicely.

2:42PM

OVER 90: ENG 311/2 (Cook 141* Root 121*)                

Half-hearted appeal by Jadeja - it's well outside the line - but that's the most excited India have been in this session. One off the over.

2:40PM

OVER 89: ENG 310/2 (Cook 141* Root 120*)               

Vihari a little and gets put away for two singles. Root then adds three more: this seems very straightforward for both batsmen to be honest.

2:38PM

OVER 88: ENG 305/2 (Cook 140* Root 116*)              

Big roar, Cook timing a shot late past third man. Moves to 140 with a single, and England are into the 300s too. Root adds a single.

2:34PM

OVER 87: ENG 299/2 (Cook 135* Root 115*)             

Three for Root, one for Cook. India are getting desperate here, shoulders dropping.

2:29PM

OVER 86: ENG 295/2 (Cook 134* Root 112*)            

More singles. Run rate dropping slightly. 

2:24PM

OVER 85: ENG 293/2 (Cook 133* Root 111*)           

Two for Root, inside edge. Easiest batting day by far in terms of swing movement and you can see why. Singles apiece to round off over 85.

2:19PM

OVER 84: ENG 289/2 (Cook 132* Root 108*)          

Cook times a shot through the covers well off his back foot, and then edges another four past the one slip. Eight for him off three balls. 

2:16PM

OVER 83: ENG 281/2 (Cook 124* Root 108*)         

Two runs off the over. Root's Grandad in the stands understandably enjoying himself. Long chat between Kohli and his substitutes - perhaps he's just keeping track of who is actually on the field and who isn't.

2:11PM

OVER 82: ENG 279/2 (Cook 123* Root 107*)        

Cook maybe thinking about another landmark. Cuts a Jadeja delivery through the off side for four. Single for Root, England ticking over at a run rate of 4.5.

2:07PM

OVER 81: ENG 274/2 (Cook 119* Root 106*)       

This is tough on Shami. Four for Root, driven through the covers after a Cook single. Sharma doesn't look as though he will be coming back. Root adds another single to mid off.

2:03PM

OVER 80: ENG 266/2 (Cook 117* Root 100*)      

Cook clips a single, bringing Root back onto the strike. Five chances in this over... he only needs one! Root has a century. His 14th in Tests. Big hug in the middle from Cook after they ran hard for a single.

1:59PM

OVER 79: ENG 263/2 (Cook 115* Root 99*)     

Oh dear. Pull from Cook gets four but only after a nasty tumble for the fielder, taking a big chunk of turf with him.

Cook adds a single to take the partnership over 200, as Root prepares himself... Shami giving nothing up cheaply, three dot balls. Make that four. The wait goes on. Lead now is 303.

1:55PM

OVER 78: ENG 258/2 (Cook 110* Root 99*)    

Couple of singles as Jadeja is blocked out. One leg bye, and then two off the last takes Root to 99...

Here's the company Cook now finds himself in. 

1:52PM

OVER 77: ENG 253/2 (Cook 109* Root 96*)   

Edged and down! Keeper dives across and that seems to put Pujara off. Root hangs on, went right through the hands. England skipper now four away.

Shami's bowled so much better than his figures suggest in this match. Sharma still unavailable.

1:47PM

OVER 76: ENG 251/2 (Cook 109* Root 94*)  

Jadeja on, starting on 1-100. Single to start as England bring up the 250, and a lead of 290. Root adds on one more.

1:44PM

OVER 75: ENG 249/2 (Cook 108* Root 93*) 

Root pulls a single down to long leg, edging ever closer. Shami then gets a bit too wide and Cook clatters four to extra cover. Similar story with the next ball, just one this time as Cook and Rook nearly get in a muddle. All fine in the end.

1:40PM

Afternoon session

Hi all, swapping out one Ben for another here heading into the afternoon session.

Lots of wonderful tributes to Cook throughout lunch. His first century honestly feels like yesterday. Nasser Hussain spoke emotively on Sky Sports about the fact that Cook had never let England down. Pietersen acolytes might bristle at that suggestion.

Back he comes, perhaps for the final session of his Test career, on 103*with Root alongside him poised on 92*.

1:04PM

LUNCH: ENG 243/2

What a session for England and what a moment for Cook. Every person inside the Oval is on their feet and every Indian player shakes his hand as he makes his way off the pitch for a breather. Everyone was hoping against hope that it might happen, but fairytales do not often come true. This one has - and England are flying in this match. The lead is already 283. So Alastair, about that whole retirement thing...

1:00PM

OVER 74: ENG 243/2 (Cook 103* Root 92*)

Root has been loving the sweep to Jadeja and he adds three more, dragging the ball towards the cow-corner boundary against the spin. And that will be lunch.

12:58PM

OVER 73: ENG 238/2 (Cook 103* Root 89*)

A decent-ish appeal from Bumrah as the ball hits Root's front pad but it looked to be missing leg stump by some margin. A single apiece for both batsmen off what will likely be the penultimate over before lunch.

12:54PM

Here was how Cook did it

12:54PM

OVER 72: ENG 238/2 (Cook 102* Root 88*)

Well, there is still a match going on amid the Cook joy and Root looks on track to match his batting partner on triple figures by creaming Jadeja for a powerfully hit sweep for four.

12:51PM

OVER 71: ENG 232/2 (Cook 101* Root 83*)

Just the one Root single off Bumrah's over.

12:48PM

OVER 70: ENG 231/2 (Cook 101* Root 82*)

Oh Alastair! A short delivery is cut away for a single... but it is then overthrown all the way to the boundary and that is it. That is Cook's hundred! And I have never heard applause like it. On and on and on and on and on. Proper, proper scenes. Incredible. What an innings. Superb.

12:45PM

COOK HAS 100

He's done it!!!!!!!!

12:42PM

OVER 69: ENG 225/2 (Cook 96* Root 81*)

The spin partnership is broken with Jadeja replaced by Bumrah and Cook flicks him for a single to fine-leg. Root scampers a quick one himself... and Cook then shows the full blade to punch past the bowler for four. Not sure I can cope with this. Does Cook even get nervous??? One more flicked single gets him ever closer.

12:36PM

OVER 68: ENG 217/2 (Cook 90* Root 80*)

Root is getting off strike without breaking sweat, pushing singles at will. Cook then does likewise to MOVE INTO THE NINETIES. How are you fingernails?

12:34PM

OVER 67: ENG 214/2 (Cook 89* Root 79*)

Things are starting to get a little nervy now... or maybe that's just me. Cook attempts to get to the pitch of the ball but can only defend Jadeja, who is getting a bit more turn here. One Root single off the over.

12:32PM

OVER 66: ENG 213/2 (Cook 89* Root 78*)

Root is playing Vihari with total ease, pre-meditating another sweep and paddling it for one. Big spin beats everyone to bring about a couple of byes. These two spinners are rattling through their overs in tandem.

12:30PM

OVER 65: ENG 210/2 (Cook 89* Root 77*)

Some excitement from those around the bat as one keeps low from Jadeja and passes Cook's outside edge. Two more singles added to the total.

12:27PM

OVER 64: ENG 208/2 (Cook 89* Root 76*)

Vihari continues and is flicked for two off Cook's toes. A cover drive to the boundary sweeper adds one more. Things are looking a little forlorn for Kohli and the Indians here, with England now leading by almost 250.

12:24PM

OVER 63: ENG 205/2 (Cook 86* Root 76*)

A change of ends for Jadeja, who is too short and too wide to Cook. That's bread and butter for a man who has scored 12,000 Test runs and he cuts hard for four. Root then gets in on the act by pre-meditating a sweep and turning it fine past the keeper for another boundary. The England captain is certainly looking to take it to the bowlers at the moment.

12:22PM

OVER 62: ENG 194/2 (Cook 80* Root 71*)

The Indians are not happy with this ball, which means a slight delay while the umpires change it for a different one. A new ball also brings a new bowler and a first chance for Vihari on his Test debut. He is very much a part-time offie and Root tickles the first ball for two before four successive singles.

12:15PM

OVER 61: ENG 188/2 (Cook 78* Root 67*)

Shami, as he has done countless times this match, tempts Cook to dangle his bat outside off and beats the outside edge. So frustrating for the seamer. A single gets Root down the business end and the skipper absolutely drills a pull shot for four. He's racing along here is Root. According to Sky Sports, Shami has beaten the bat 43 times. So not quite countless then...

12:10PM

OVER 60: ENG 182/2 (Cook 77* Root 62*)

Oh wow - where has that come from??? Root decides to charge down the track to Jadeja and picks the ball up perfectly, lifting it high over the bowler's head for a huge six.

12:08PM

OVER 59: ENG 174/2 (Cook 76* Root 55*)

Four singles off the first four balls of the over and the last of those moves Cook above Sangakkara in the list of Test runs scored. That puts him fifth in the all-time rankings and No 1 among left-handers in history.

11:59AM

OVER 58: ENG 169/2 (Cook 74* Root 53*)

One single apiece for Cook and Root off Jadeja. That will be drinks.

11:58AM

OVER 57: ENG 167/2 (Cook 73* Root 52*)

A single brings up the 100-partnership for this pair off 171 balls. Shami then asks the question as Root is hit on the pad while falling over slightly into the off side, but it was nowhere near and England's captain then brings up his half-century by cutting the ball fine for four.

11:53AM

OVER 56: ENG 161/2 (Cook 72* Root 47*)

There is now a mid-wicket in for Jadeja to Root... and the England captain is dropped! The ball comes off the edge of Root's attempted cut shot and flies at some speed to Rahane at slip, who only succeeds in palming the ball away. That ball was really travelling. Cook then chops the ball down past point for two to take England's lead past 200.

11:49AM

OVER 55: ENG 158/2 (Cook 70* Root 46*)

Sharma is still off with a sore ankle, apparently. Here comes Shami into the attack. Incredibly, he only has one wicket to his name so far in the this match despite bowling quite brilliantly at times. Cook picks out the cover sweeper for a single before Root adds another to point.

11:45AM

OVER 54: ENG 156/2 (Cook 69* Root 45*)

Jadeja round the wicket to Root, who eases into a bit of width outside off stump and strokes the ball for two through point. He then capitalises on the 6-3 field (including one under the lid) by sweeping hard from well outside off stump and leathering the ball straight of mid-wicket for four. And exactly the same again. Same shot, same result. Ten runs from the over.

11:41AM

OVER 53: ENG 146/2 (Cook 69* Root 35*)

Cook looks in the mood today, he really does, and he's rattling along at quite a rate. This time he tucks into a cover drive that is brilliantly stopped just in front of the boundary rope by Jadeja, sprinting and diving at full stretch. A firm, impeccably-timed punch then brings up two more through extra cover.

11:36AM

OVER 52: ENG 141/2 (Cook 65* Root 34*)

The opening half-hour has been negotiated and Cook plays his favourite cut shot to the first ball of Jadeja's over, walloping it for four. Jadeja drops short again to Root, but the England captain's own cut isn't quite as well placed and he only picks up one to the sweeper.

11:32AM

OVER 51: ENG 135/2 (Cook 60* Root 33*)

A straight bat brings one more to Cook's score past the bowler off Bumrah.

11:28AM

OVER 50: ENG 134/2 (Cook 59* Root 33*)

Back to the battle between Jadeja and Cook. The spinner gets one to pass the outside edge, before Cook then goes back in his crease and pushes one into the off side. Sharma is still not back on the field.

11:25AM

OVER 49: ENG 133/2 (Cook 58* Root 33*)

Oof, short and nasty from Bumrah. Unlike the ones that were too short in his last over, Bumrah aims this one perfectly at Root's throat. Attempting to ride the ball, he gloves it in the air but wide of the slip cordon. Bumrah's radar then goes horribly awry as another delivery flies down leg side, giving Pant no chance behind the stumps. Thankfully (and bizarrely), India's fine-leg is almost fielding back stop and cuts it off with ease.

Not much need for the batsman's front foot so far...

11:20AM

OVER 48: ENG 129/2 (Cook 57* Root 32*)

Jadeja is looking to turn the ball in from outside off stump to Cook, but the England opener is getting a good stride in and getting to the pitch of the ball. Maiden.

11:18AM

OVER 47: ENG 129/2 (Cook 57* Root 32*)

Sharma looks to have wandered off the pitch so I'm not sure if he's picked up some sort of problem. Will keep an eye on that. Bumrah is running in hard and getting the ball through in excess of 90mph here but Root gives a wry smile after a pair of bouncers sail harmlessly over his head.

11:13AM

OVER 46: ENG 128/2 (Cook 56* Root 32*)

A strange move from Kohli here. Having started with seam from both ends, he then quickly takes Sharma out of the attack and replaces him with Jadeja, who is promptly despatched for four by Cook with a thumping cover drive. Jadeja is over the wicket to Cook and round to Root, who rocks back and dabs smartly for a couple through third-man.

11:10AM

OVER 45: ENG 121/2 (Cook 52* Root 30*)

Bumrah will resume from the other end... and he is immediately flicked for four off Cook's hip to bring up his half-century. Understated celebrations from the England opener. He will be so keen to double that up and adds another single with a back-foot push through the covers. There's a very healthy crowd in this morning - the Cook Effect.

11:09AM

OVER 44: ENG 116/2 (Cook 47* Root 30*)

Root is the man at the business end for Sharma to kick things off and there's plenty of in-swing straight away to the right-hander. Root pushes a single to cover to get off the mark before Cook squeezes a straight one behind square on the leg side.

11:09AM

Here we go

Warm applause for Virat Kohli as he leads his India side out onto an Oval pitch bathed in sunshine.  There is some cloud cover, but it looks a lovely day for it. That applause then rises many notches as Cook walks out to the crease for the final time... until he remains not out tomorrow morning.

10:40AM

Jammy Jennings

Two final pieces to make you aware of:

Tim Wigmore has written this: Ravindra Jadeja's lower order runs show India what they have been missing against England

Nick Hoult has written this: Attitude enough to save Keaton Jennings from England drop despite another failure

It's hard to think anything other than the fact that Jennings is a very lucky boy.

10:30AM

Broad out?

One story that has been read a lot overnight on the Telegraph website is this from Tim Wigmore and Nick Hoult:  Stuart Broad at risk of omission from England Test squad for Sri Lanka tour. Here is a snippet:

I can't help but smile at the thought of Broad's reaction to being told he is given an "extended rest"...

10:19AM

The long goodbye

It's worth mentioning that tickets are still available for today at the Oval if you happen to a) be vaguely near and b) able to pull a sickie.

There are plenty of morsels to tuck into from yesterday's play, none tastier than Paul Hayward's piece: Alastair Cook's long goodbye continues with England opener in his element against India. Here is a snippet:

10:13AM

Getting ready

9:45AM

Day four preview

The dream remains alive. Following on from his 71 in the first innings, Alastair Cook has so far compiled 46 at the second attempt and returns to the crease at 11am to see if he can bow out in his final Test innings with a century that would be one of the cricketing moments in English history.

In fact, he is already only four away from joining an elite group:

There were plenty of people who thought Cook should not be picked for this final Test. The logic was that he had not contributed enough with the bat to warrant his place in the side and that a final dead rubber Test was the perfect opportunity to blood whoever it is that will be tasked with filling Cook's boots.

The second of those arguments still stands I suppose, but there is surely no one left who thinks England were wrong to allow Cook to bow out on his own terms. The sheer weight of runs he has scored over the past few days shows why his place in the team is not mere sentimentality.

It is easy enough to forget that there is a Test match to be won and Cook - above most other members of the England team - has done a lot to ensure that the hosts end this series as 3-1 winners.

When he and Joe Root walk out this morning, they do so with England already 154 runs ahead, with eight wickets remaining. Unless India blitz their way through the England batting line-up, the hosts will expect to have enough on the board to win this match if they are still going by tea.

But they will not stop there, of course. Because by then Cook will be unbeaten on 118. And 164 at close. And 202 by lunch tomorrow. And then - and only then - will England consider declaring.