England v India: We threw everything into final day, says Alastair Cook
England v India: Alastair Cook feels his side did their best to try and secure a win after drawing the first Test with India
Alastair Cook insisted England threw everything into the final day of the first Test as India recovered to secure a draw at Trent Bridge.
The hosts had a glimmer of hope that a Test win could be a possibility as India were reduced to 184-6, but Stuart Binny smashed 78 to help the tourists declare on 391-9.
It was going to come, we threw everything into today but when they got above 250-260 you felt we weren’t going to win
Alastair Cook
Despite a disappointing outcome on a poor wicket, England captain still had reason to smile after claiming his first Test wicket during a rare bowling spell.
On dismissing Ishant Sharma, Cook said: “A few people aren’t talking to me. It was a extraordinary moment for me to have more Test wickets than [bowling coach] David Saker.”
He added: “The scoreboard never lies! There was only one impression in there, the rest was my beautiful action!
“It was going to come, we threw everything into today but when they got above 250-260 you felt we weren’t going to win.
“We had a sniff when they were only 200 ahead but the wicket won.”
England had produced a first innings score of 496 thanks to the record-breaking last-wicket stand of 198 from 11th man James Anderson and Joe Root.
And Cook praised the pair in his post-match interview: “We dragged ourselves out of a hole. In this game we had a poor session when we lost six wickets.
“It was an outstanding hundred from Root and with Jimmy to have got 80-something. I didn’t see it coming, but thank goodness he got it.”
