Calcutta: The list of Alastair Cook's admirers is growing everyday. Sunil Gavaskar is the latest one. The former India captain, during a television programme, said that the England captain has the ability to score 15,000 Test runs and 50 Test centuries before he hangs his boots.
"With this kind of form, and even if his form drops a little, 15,000 Test runs and 50 Test centuries are not beyond him," Gavaskar said in praise of Cook, who is unbeaten on 136 in England's first innings, the ongoing Eden Test.
Cook not only scored his fifth century in five Tests as the captain, he also became the youngest batsmen to complete 7000 runs in Tests. Add to that his 23 centuries, the highest by an Englishman. "The only unpredictable part in one's career is injuries... If he can get away without any serious injuries, then these landmarks are not beyond him," the icon reiterated.
What Gavaskar likes about Cook is the left-hander's ability to concentrate. "Concentration is a God given ability... What I like about Cook is that he is that he's always watching at the ball... Even when he is standing at the non-striker's end. That's one way to keep your concentration going," Gavaskar explained.
"There are a lot of players who look everywhere. The focus should always be on your job," he added.
Gavaskar also attended a promotional in the city in the evening. During his interaction with the media there, Gavaskar said that lack of full houses during Test matches is a world-wide trend.
"It's basically a world-wide trend, except in Australia and England when they take on each other... It's also because people like to watch more one-dayers and Twenty20 stuff. A lot of people are also busy with their work and studies…. So it's not easy to fill up stadiums these days," he said.
On a different note, he informed that he has brought a gift for Sourav Ganguly. "I was in Argentina a couple of days before the Eden Test started... I have got Diego Maradona's replica shirts of the 1986 World Cup for Sourav (Ganguly). Hopefully, I'll give it to him on Friday," he said.
