Cook set to break Tendulkar’s run records after Kolkata ton

Alastair Cook treated the Indians to yet another batting master class on the second day of the third Test, making short work of the tricky conditions to record an unbeaten score of 136.

This was his 23rd Test ton and makes him England’s all-time leading century maker. Aged just 27, he’s still got plenty of miles left on the clock and Ladbrokes have priced him up at just 8/1 to become the highest scoring Test player ever, surpassing the total set by Sachin Tendulkar.

The England captain’s latest effort eclipsed an English record that stood for an incredible 73 years and helped his side into a commanding position with three days left to play.

The tourists were left 100 runs behind India’s total at stumps on day two, yet with nine wickets in-hand, there is no doubting who is on top in this pivotal clash.

Cook’s 136 not out represented his third ton in succession in India, his fifth in a row as captain and, furthermore, it saw him become the youngest player to pass 7,000 Test runs.

With time on his side, he’ll need to rack up another 8,000 to get somewhere near the world record currently held by Tendulkar yet, at 39, his opportunities to add to his 15,000 plus runs are limited and without a three-figure score to his name in almost a year there are definite signs that the Little Masters’ powers are waning.

Another record of Tendulkar’s that Cook is on course to break is the leading century scorer in Test history, which currently stands at 51.

He’s priced slightly longer to achieve this accolade at 10/1 but both seem excellent prices given the way the run machine is dominating all comers at the moment.

Ladbrokes have also quoted Cook at an early price of 7/1 to pick up the 2013 Sports Personality of the Year award ahead of the Australians visit for the Ashes.

Should captain Cook steer his side to a hat-trick of victories over the old enemy (which they’re fancied to do at 4/7) then that price is guaranteed to decrease and, with the field sure to be less competitive next year, early investment could prove a shrewd move.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date