Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 28, 2017. England's Alastair Cook celebrates after reaching his double-century during the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Alastair Cook strode off the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday with an unbeaten 244 early on day four of the fourth Ashes test, the highest ever score by an opener to have carried his bat through an innings.
England resumed their first innings on 491 for nine but Cook was unable to add to his overnight total, with Pat Cummins dismissing tail-ender James Anderson for a duck with the first ball of the morning.
Former captain Cook became the first England batsman in 20 years to carry his bat, with Mike Atherton (94 not out) the last to do so against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1997.
Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 29, 2017. Australia's Cameron Bancroft reacts after being bowled by England's Chris Woakes during the fourth day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray
Cook's effort was the 52nd time a player has achieved the feat in over 130 years of test cricket. Only 46 players have ever carried their bat in the longest form of the game.
The last to do so was West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite, who was 142 not out against Pakistan in Sharjah last year.
Cook's 244 not out is the highest score by a touring batsman at the MCG. The 208 scored by West Indies' Viv Richards in 1984 was the previous record.
Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 29, 2017. Australia's Cameron Bancroft is bowled by England's Chris Woakes during the fourth day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 28, 2017. England's Alastair Cook reacts as he walks off the ground at the end of the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David GrayCricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 28, 2017. England's Alastair Cook shakes hands with Australia's captain Steve Smith as he walks off the ground at the end of the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David GrayCricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 28, 2017. England's Alastair Cook shakes hands with Australia's Josh Hazlewood as he walks off the ground at the end of the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David GrayCricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 29, 2017. Australian players congratulate England's Alastair Cook as he walks off the ground at the end of England's first innings during the fourth day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David GrayCricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - MCG, Melbourne, Australia, December 29, 2017. England's Alastair Cook reacts as he walks off the ground at the end of England's first innings during the fourth day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray
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