Man of the Series

[vic_orthdox]

Think if anything it gives me a greater appreciation of guys like Mark Taylor who have put up epic numbers in past series. The fact that Cook would still have to score another 70 or so runs to surpass Taylor's series output in 1989 makes me appreciate what an incredible effort that must have been.

Six Tests though, yeah?

[GIMH]

Still, to sustain it for a six-Test series must be some effort.

[vic_orthdox]

Oh, for sure.

[benchmark00]

Loved the Tub. Need more players batting in floppies.

[GingerFurball]

Six Tests though, yeah?

That's my point though, say England don't bat again this Test and the teams were rocking up in Hobart next week for a 6th Test. Despite his awesomeness, Cook would still need to score 70 odd to match Taylor. Watching Cook this series makes you appreciate how awesome Taylor must have been in 1989, although I doubt I'd have seen it that way.

Warne's 2005 series means I can appreciate how awesome an effort 40 wickets is. Cook's done the equivelant for batting. Ridiculous that Hussey is about 200 shy of his series total.

[Howe_zat]

That's my point though, say England don't bat again this Test and the teams were rocking up in Hobart next week for a 6th Test. Despite his awesomeness, Cook would still need to score 70 odd to match Taylor.

Cook is averaging 128 this series. I see what you mean, in that it becomes harder and harder to keep going for more Tests, but I'd go with 70 in the next match. His efforts are certainly in the same vein as Taylor's.

[four_or_six]

So awesome from Cook. He certainly looks like he'll break all sorts of England batting records.

[flibbertyjibber]

The frightening thing is that in 89 Taylor went virtually unnoticed till very late in the series as all the focus in the media early on was on Waugh who was averaging about 350 once we finally got him out for the first time in the series in the 3rd test at Headingley. Our media with their love affair of slating Gower at the time basically ignored Tubbs until they finally woke up and realised he was having one of the greatest series of all time.

The fact Hussey has basically done what Vaughan did 8 years ago and been a one man band needs bigging up though. He has been superb as well.

[Howe_zat]

The frightening thing is that in 89 Taylor went virtually unnoticed till very late in the series as all the focus in the media early on was on Waugh who was averaging about 350 once we finally got him out for the first time in the series in the 3rd test at Headingley. Our media with their love affair of slating Gower at the time basically ignored Tubbs until they finally woke up and realised he was having one of the greatest series of all time.

The fact Hussey has basically done what Vaughan did 8 years ago and been a one man band needs bigging up though. He has been superb as well.

An excellent point on Huss. Cook has had three teammates average 60+ in this series, Hussey has had none.

[stephen]

Interesting that Taylor, in his series of greatness only passed 100 twice.

[chalky]

Interesting that Taylor, in his series of greatness only passed 100 twice.

One of my earliest cricket memories is Taylor & Marsh batting for the full day in 89. The 89 series was a beating makes the current one look like Ali Frazier in terms of competativeness.

[Howe_zat]

Cook:

7 innings, 1 not out, 766 runs, average 127.66, 3 hundreds

Katich, Hughes, Ponting, Khawaja, Clarke, North, Johnson and Smith put together:

40 innings, 1 not out, 759 runs, average 19.46, 0 hundreds

[King Pietersen]

That's an incredible stat.

[flibbertyjibber]

Cook:

7 innings, 1 not out, 766 runs, average 127.66, 3 hundreds

Katich, Hughes, Ponting, Khawaja, Clarke, North, Johnson and Smith put together:

40 innings, 1 not out, 759 runs, average 19.46, 0 hundreds

Says as much about both bowling units too as it does the batsmen involved.

[MattO]

Yeah and you had 2 buggers who did the same in 89 in Taylor and Waugh. Shows how great they were that year that only Vaughan and Cook since have had anything like a series like that.

Jones also carved up in that series and Border averaged over 70.