2. 2011 – The Golden Year
2011 was a memorable year for Cook who took charge as full-time skipper for the first time against touring Sri Lanka. He made a successful start with a 3-0 win over the opposition. His winning momentum continued against India in the following home series as well where he scripted a commanding 4-0 whitewash to take his team to the top of the Test rankings. He began his leadership journey with flawless series wins and received great praises. But, more than his beginning as a skipper, it was his ‘bradmanesque’ batting form that highlighted his debut year as skipper.
2011 turned out to be the best year of his career. In the series against Sri Lanka, he scored 390 runs at an average close to 98 with two centuries and one half-century. He scored 133 in the opening Test and then registered 96 and 106 in the second Test. In the third and the final Test, he made 55 in the only innings that England played in the match.
Cook continued his fine run against India as well, scoring 348 runs with a high score of 294, his career best so far. He could not make any significant impact in the first two matches. However, in the third match of the series, he hit a series defining knock of 291. He ended the series on a high making 50 in the final match. In all, he ended 2011 with 927 runs in just 8 Tests at a staggering average of 84.27.