12 August,2011 01:14 PM IST | | AFP
England opener Alastair Cook insisted the third Test against India was not even close to being won despite a chanceless 182 not out here at Edgbaston.
Cook's innings was the cornerstone of England's 456 for three at stumps on Thursday's second day.
That left England with an already sizeable lead of 232 runs.
With three days left, it appears only one of the great comebacks of all-time or a huge weather interruption can deny England a win that would give them a series-clinching 3-0 lead in this four-Test contest.
Victory at Edgbaston would also see England replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table.
But a cautious Cook told reporters: "We are not even half way through the Test match yet."
Cook, who had managed just 20 runs in four previous innings this series, added: "It's always nice to score runs and especially pleasing when you haven't scored in the last two Test matches.
"The conditions in the last couple of Tests have been very tough but fortunately today (Thursday), I was able to get past the new ball."
Cook also paid tribute to the influence of ex-England captain Graham Gooch, his mentor throughout his career and now England's batting coach.
"We have a work ethic in our batters over the last couple of years since Goochie came on board and the results have gone through the roof but we have to keep our feet on the ground," he said.
Cook is now just one century away from equalling fellow Essex star Gooch's mark of 20 Test hundreds.
And he's only three shy of drawing level with the all-time England record of 22 shared by Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott.
Given he is still only 26, there is no telling what Cook may yet achieve but he insisted there would be some sadness if he did tie Gooch's tally.
"It will be a shame when, or if, I do equal him because he is a great player but he's also a friend now," explained Cook who marked his Test debut with a century against India at Nagpur in 2006.
Former opener Gooch is a big believer in 'daddy hundreds' as he proved when making a Test-best 333 against India at Lord's in 1990.
"It is from Goochie and he doesn't really count anything under 150," explained Cook.
"I think that is the benchmark to be a 'daddy' but you would have to ask the great man."
India opener Gautam Gambhir, praised Cook's "patience and determination" but warned England that it was "easy to be number one in the world but a harder thing to sustain it".
However, Cook insisted England were determined to enjoy enduring success.
"We have this ethos we want to improve every time we play...we will never be satisfied with what we have done.
"This team wants to stay together for a long time and do something very special. Hopefully, we can continue doing that."
