2. 118 v Sri Lanka, Galle, 2007

Opening batsmen’s innings are generally judged by their performance in the first innings but, Cook’s finest have come in the second innings and none displayed more determination, skill, and stubbornness than his match-saving century in Galle. England, having been bowled out for 81, were asked to follow on 418 behind Sri Lanka with an over of day three and six more sessions to survive. The rain rescued England, as they could’ve thrashed out but for Cook, especially when Muttiah Muralitharan reduced them from 200 for two to 200 for five in the space of four deliveries on the fifth morning.

Countering Muralitharan by playing him off the back foot and punching fours through cover, he braved six hours and 20 minutes to score his seventh Test century … all before his 23rd birthday.