Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Headingley

"I never understand the theory that a Mexican wave means the crowd aren't interested in the cricket. The Headingley crowd knew exactly what was going on, halting a wave to acclaim Cook with sustained applause. A banner was unfurled and play was slightly delayed as the appreciation continued. Cook raised his bat a couple of times, but the helmet stayed on. Understated, more work to do."

Vintage Cook, cracking Southee to the same point boundary for another four, while Southee has a touch of the Steven Finn (2010 model), falling over after his delivery stride.

Dave Wilson: Whether you like him as captain or not, there's no doubting that Cook is a world class Test opening batsman, England's best ever.

Hugh Moxon: Walking several miles from the stadium but can still hear Headingley erupt as Cook makes history. Way to silence the doubters!

Matt Chapman: Congratulations Cook. Keep this form up and score a shed full against Australia in the summer please.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"When he's playing well, leaving the ball well, I think Cook is the best opening batsman in the world."

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Graham Gooch has been England's leading run scorer for 7,952 days or almost 22 years. Only two players have been England's leading run-scorer for longer than that: Jack Hobbs and Wally Hammond."

As the crowd settles down, a wide from Boult advances the score, while Lyth prods a single towards third man. Cook, with those record shackles broken, knocks a single off his legs.

Meanwhile, we'd like to hear from you - forget the captaincy debate for a while, as an opening batsman, where does Alastair Cook rank among England opening batsmen you've seen? And what are your fondest memories of his batting career? (NB if you saw Jack Hobbs play and are able to use the internet, I take my hat off to you!)

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I don't think it's a big milestone in his life. What's more important to him is the hundreds he's got, the matches he's won, and the fact that he's now back in his best form. I'm sure not playing one-day cricket has helped him."

Image source, Getty Images

Alison Mitchell
BBC Test Match Special

"The standing ovation he is getting around Headingley just tells you the ovation and respect the England supporters have for their captain. That is a special moment for a man who has ridden all manner of ups and downs."

Image source, Getty Images

Cook steers Southee through cover point for four - he's done it! Alastair Cook becomes England's highest Test run-scorer with 8,902 runs, ahead of Graham Gooch's 8,900.

A warm ovation from the stands at Headingley, while a large red banner is unfurled, featuring the hashtag #headchef - well done, Cookie. All the more remarkably, in less than 10 years since his debut, he's played nearly as many Tests (114) as Gooch did in a 20-year international career.

Image source, Getty Images

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"He's like Elizabeth Taylor, Alastair Cook - he's been through a few partners."

Adam Lyth is Cook's ninth opening partner in Tests, after Strauss, Vaughan, Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Compton, Root and Robson.

Lyth leg-glances Boult for four - whisper it quietly, never mind Cook-watch, his partner is only five away from a maiden Test fifty. You wait for Headingley to erupt for one of their own.

Image source, Getty Images

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"He's a terrific fielder McCullum, very athletic. Not all wicketkeepers have traditionally been good fielders but he is superb."

Cook squeezes Southee through extra cover for a single - up to 8,898, two behind Gooch. Lyth defends before examining the tape-repair-job on his bat between deliveries. Southee comes round the wicket, but Lyth is not flustered by the change of angle and confidently flicks a three off his legs. Now he gets umpire Tucker to have a look as his bat-tape. (Bat-tape - sounds like something Batman might have in his utility belt if he came to a match).

Jack Blackburn: I've decided to watch the cricket until Cook breaks this record. He needs 5 runs. Could take one minute. Could take 100.

Jack Ewins: Cook to reach his milestone with a six over cow corner? Perhaps not.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Headingley

"There's someone waving a Mexico flag in the Western Terrace. I think I can make out some sombreros, but bringing a flag is a whole new level of commitment. As New Zealand take time over the field, one impatient Yorkshireman shouts for them to 'get on with it'."

Image source, Reuters

Boult to Lyth, uneventful maiden over, after which the Yorkshire left-hander has to get his bat repaired with some tape by the 12th man.

And on the "most keepers in a Test XI" question, Martin Jones (12:32) suggested the Sri Lankan quintet of Dilshan, K Silva, Sangakkara, Chandimal and P Jayawardene - but the ever-meticulous Andrew Samson has checked and they've never all played in the same international match (Test, ODI or T20). So it's just those five Zimbabweans (12:36) that Andrew found earlier.

Michael Fordham (history teacher, taking a break from marking A-Level essays…): Re: beer and mead (13:46). Beer most certainly was drunk during the middle ages by people from all social classes, including knights.

Consider myself admonished!

Lyth firmly cuts Southee for three, while a Cook single cranks the rotors around to 8,897, three behind Goochie. Lyth gets up on one foot to force a single to fine leg as the man with a diabolical 666 on his shirt takes England to 66-0.

Image source, AFP

Adam: If you need bowling wicketkeepers, how about Australia's Tim Zoehrer, who bowled very respectable leggies? Going back a bit further, AC Smith of Warwickshire and England, who took 131 first-class wickets at 23.46 with his medium pacers.

Another Warwickshire keeper, Geoff Humpage, regularly bowled medium pace in the Sunday League in the early 1980s.