THERE is no reason why Alastair Cook cannot become the most capped Test cricketer and greatest run scorer in the history of the game.

He demonstrated in Melbourne the desire, skill and fitness to continue churning out runs for years to come.

5 Alastair Cook returned to form with a stunning 244 not out Credit: Getty - Contributor

Cook’s 244 not out in the Fourth Test proved those who questioned his commitment were talking nonsense.

And people who reckon his performance was somehow devalued because England had already lost The Ashes were also 100 per cent wrong. They have no clue about Australian cricket mentality.

The Aussies were busting a gut to secure a 5-0 whitewash. There is no such thing in cricket Down Under as taking the foot off the gas.

So, yes, Cook’s innings was meaningful and magnificent. The pitch was sluggish, which neutralised bowlers from both teams, but there’s no way Australia’s attack were not trying as hard as they did in the first three Tests.

Latest cricket news Video KEY MOMENTS Barmy Army win over MCG cop, Root gets birthday treat and Smith rules again CAPTAIN MARVEL Smith hits another ton as England settle for a draw on flat pitch at the MCG FIVE KEY MOMENTS England accused of ball tampering and subdued David Warner stands firm ethers' ashes 'Pommie-bashing' row after James Anderson accused of ball tampering

5 Alastair Cook shrugged off his doubters with a brilliant knock Credit: Getty Images - Getty

5 The former England skipper bounced back after a tough year Credit: Reuters

Hopefully, Cook’s marathon effort will confirm in his mind he can play for several more years. He is currently 3,965 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 15,921.

So Cook could reach that figure in around four years’ time. It is amazing to think, even though he was only 33 on Christmas Day, he has already played 151 Tests.

Tendulkar played the last of his 200 at the age of 40.

Some people might think Cook surpassing the little Indian master’s number is pie in the sky, but it is clearly not impossible. Only Cook — and maybe Joe Root — among the England players is capable of playing an innings lasting more than ten hours.

It combined concentration with stamina. No matter what was happening, he just went on and on.

5 Alastair Cook is England's most capped player Credit: Getty Images - Getty

5 India great Sachin Tendulkar is the man to beat Credit: PA:Press Association

Perhaps the most notable aspect was the number of shots down the ground. Check the wagon wheel. You normally think of Cook as a batsman who plays mainly square of the wicket with cuts and nudges off his hip. But his straight driving was immaculate.

England, though, face a big dilemma over Moeen Ali in the Fifth Test.

He’s endured a desperate tour and I don’t know if he can cling on to his place.

Moeen’s hardly looked like taking a wicket and, with the bat, Australia’s formula is pretty straightforward — bowl him a few bouncers and wait for him to get out to Nathan Lyon’s off-spin at the other end.

Lyon has dismissed him six times out of seven.

Aussie aggro no bother JIMMY ANDERSON does not care what the Aussies think of him as he continues to attract anger and aggro. In the past week, Anderson has been criticised for questioning the depth of Australia’s bowling attack and incorrectly accused of ball tampering during the Fourth Test. But the England bowler is more worried about trying to help England win the final Ashes clash this week than upsetting the locals. He said: “I was just speaking factually about Australia’s bowling reserves. I wasn’t trying to slag off anyone. I just spoke my mind. “I don’t care what people think of me. “If people want to get het up about some pretty dull comment I made about their bowling attack, it’s fine. You’ve got to have a thick skin playing over here.” TV commentators such as Shane Warne said Anderson looked to be gouging the ball with his thumb nail during last week’s drawn Test in Melbourne. Anderson added: “It’s ridiculous but what we’ve come to expect. I was getting dirt off the ball. They’d watered the square so the foot holes on old wickets had mud. I went to the umpires to make sure they were happy with it. “I’d feel disappointed if we didn’t get a win on this trip. We’ve played well at times in all four Tests. It would mean so much to the lads if we could win the final Test.”

Moeen hardly bowled on day five, when Root would have wanted him to have a big impact. Root himself and Dawid Malan, a couple of part-time spinners, looked more likely to take strike.

England probably want to give Mason Crane a debut in Sydney next week. But, if they believe the pitch will turn enough to play Crane, they will want to retain Moeen as a second spinner.

England cricketers Alastair Cook and Jonny Bairstow preview launch of Foster's cricket game

If they simply swap Crane for Moeen, that would mean Chris Woakes batting at No 7, which is too high especially if Mitchell Starc has recovered from his heel injury.

An alternative would be to bring in Crane for Tom Curran.

That would be tough on the Surrey bowler after just one Test but I’m not sure England can afford to field only three seamers.