LONDON: Alastair Cook made history at The Oval as he became the first batsman ever to make a century in his first and last innings in Test cricket.

Cook made 147 in his final innings before international retirement and captain Joe Root weighed in with 125 as England declared on 423 for eight wickets.

Fast bowler Jimmy Anderson then drew level with Australian Glenn McGrath’s pace bowling record of 563 Test wickets as India, chasing an improbable 464 for victory, floundered.

The tourists, who have already lost the series 3-1, ended the day on 58-3, trailing England by 406 runs.

The near-capacity crowd spent much of the day on their feet as Cook and Root with the bat, and then Anderson with the ball, put India under the cosh.

It was a historic day all round for Cook, who surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to become the fifth-highest Test run scorer – and most prolific left-hander – before reaching his 33rd and final Test century.

The former captain shared in a huge partnership with his successor Root, putting on 259 runs for the third wicket.

Cook was given a standing ovation at the start of the day, then again when he reached three figures, before the entire ground stood to applaud as he left the field after batting for the final time.

With India looking mentally exhausted, Anderson made hay in a frenetic evening session, dismissing Shikhar Dhawan and then Cheteshwar Pujara in the space of three balls to move himself within one wicket of passing McGrath outright and becoming the leading fast bowler in Test cricket.

India captain Virat Kohli fell for a golden duck to Stuart Broad as the party atmosphere grew.

Cook said later: “It was an unbelievable way to end. It was strange week but I was just determined not to get out early because it would have been an anti-climax, but to go out like that is the prefect way to end.

“I don’t think there was any doubt I could still play but I certainly found the last 12-18 months harder.

“My greatest skill is to be able to take a lot of emotion out of my batting and to be able to take one ball at a time, and if there has ever been a test of that, it has been this week.

“To perform like that probably just shows my greatest strength.”

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