Alastair Cook rejects criticism of his batting style

Opener Cook defended his batting style after falling short of 300

Alastair Cook rejected criticism of his batting style after scoring 294 on day three of the third Test against India.

Cook batted for almost 13 hours but at one stage went 137 balls without a four before England declared on 710-7.

Test Match Special's Geoffrey Boycott felt Cook should have scored quicker to help bring an earlier declaration.

Cook said: "It was quite a turgid day with defensive fields, an old ball and some spin. It was hard to accelerate but we managed to grind out 700."

The Essex batsman's career-best innings was the sixth highest for England in Test history and helped the hosts to their third highest team score and a first-innings lead of 486.

India will now have to bat for two days to avoid defeat at Edgbaston and stop England securing the win they need to replace the tourists as the world's number one Test side.

When asked about Boycott's comments, Cook added: "You can try and take a big risk but you might get out. If you can just milk it, then milk it.

"We wanted to keep them in the field all day and grind their noses in it, so i think it's a pretty good effort to get a lead of nearly 500."

The left-hander completed his second Test double hundred but missed out on becoming only the sixth England batsman to score a Test triple century.

"It was a great moment tinged with disappointment that I got so close to a landmark but didn't quite get there," he said.

"But that's what batters do, you always have something to be disappointed about.

"It was nice to cash in and. when you take the emotion out of it, I am obviously delighted."

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who took three wickets in his 43 overs, insisted that India could claim a draw.

"It's spinning but doesn't have bounce. I am very positive we can do it. We have done it before as well," he said.

"We have good batters, and it's a good pitch to bat.

"I don't think we will lose this Test. The team spirit is very good and positive, and we can get a draw."

Listen to Jonathan Agnew and Geoff Boycott's review of each day's play on the TMS podcast.