As reports emerged yesterday that Australia's Trevor Bayliss had emerged as the front-runner to replace the sacked Peter Moores as England coach rather than compatriot Jason Gillespie, the long-time favourite, Cook's men were completing a stunning 124-run win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.
This match was a triumph for Cook who, having ended his two-year wait for a Test century against the West Indies in Barbados earlier this month, made 162 -- his first Test ton on home soil since 2013 -- in England's second innings at Lord's.