South African Stephen Cook becomes 100th batsman to score a century on Test debut

New Delhi: Unheralded South African Stephen Cook on Friday scored a patient century  on debut against England to become the 100th batsman to do so.

In the process, the 33-year-old also became only the sixth South African to have completed a ton on debut match. He scored 115 runs off 218, and established a 202-run second-wicket partnership with another Hashim Amla, who also scored a hundred.

Incidentally, Cook -- which is indeed a popular nickname in cricketing circles -- improved his father's debut record. Jimmy Cook made a first ball duck in his debut match against India at Durban in November 1992. He played another two Test matches, with a highest score of 43.

On personal note, Stephen is the fourth oldest debutant to make hundred, after Aussie Adam Voges (35 yrs, 243 days) in 2015, Zimbabwen Dave Houghton (35 yrs, 118 days) in 1992 and England's Billy Griffith (33 yrs, 240 days) in 1948.

Cook's highest first class score of 390 is also the highest individual score made in first-class in South Africa.