The Cook and Kevin show: England's twin towers sweep away Indian spinners for centuries

Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen both completed their 22nd Test century each on the third day's play in the second Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Cook's century came in 236 balls while Pietersen took just 127 balls to complete his hundred.

Pietersen's century on Sunday came in 127 balls and included fourteen hits to the fence. Interestingly, Pietersen and Cook had the same career averages before this Test but Cook has played five Tests less. After this Test, Pietersen's average has gone up to 50.01 while Cook is marginally behind at 49.24.

Kevin Pietersen completed his 22nd century on the third day of the second cricket Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This is his sixth Test century against India and his first Test century since scoring 175 against India at The Oval in 2011.

Pietersen had been under pressure to score in this series after his repeated failures against left-arm spin bowlers. In the first innings too, he had been dismissed by Pragyan Ojha, a leftie slow bowler. That was his 25th dismissal to left-arm spin since 2008.

Pietersen's inclusion in the series itself was controversial, after he was dropped from the England side for objectionable text messages against his team mates. He had been left out of the initial 16 member team for the series.

Pietersen had also been left out of the England team for the World T20 Championships in Sri Lanka earlier this year, despite England being the defending champions. He was also left out of the list of players who were given central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

In between, Pietersen also made a sudden announcement to retire from One-Day Internationals and T20 cricket. He made himself available only for Tests and for the IPL, but was told by the EB that he cannot pick and choose the format he wanted to play.

Kevin Pietersen, originally a South African, had moved to England after being repeatedly ignored by the South African Cricket Association for national duty.

While Alastair Cook is playing his 85th Test, this is Pietersen's 90th Test match. The next best in terms of experience in the England squad is pace bowler James Anderson, who is playing his 75th Test. Interestingly, Sachin Tendulkar alone has played more Tests (192) than Cook and Pietersen put together. 

Captain Alastair Cook played the sheet-anchor to the England innings yet again, scoring his fourth Test century in a row on Day Three.

Cook took 270 balls for his 122 runs. His innings included 13 fours and a huge six, only his sixth career six in his 85th Test.

This was his 22nd Test century, making him the joint highest Test centurion for England ever, along with Geoffrey Boycott, Colin Cowdrey and Wally Hammond. He has been joined by Pietersen, who himself completed his 100 soon after Cook did.

Alastair Cook has now broken his own record scoring Test centuries as captain. His ton in the second innings of the first Test made him the first batsman to score three consecutive centuries in his first three Tests as captain, and now his 122 here has made it four-in-four.

Cook put on a 206-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen for the third wicket to put his team in control of the second Test. This is the highest third-wicket stand at the Wankhede Stadium, overtaking the previous record of Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli.

The Cook-Pietersen partnership is also the highest in the match so far. The second best is the 111-run partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and R Ashwin for India. These two are also the most experienced players in the current England squad.

Pietersen was the dominant partner of the Cook-Kevin partnership, scoring 123 of the 206 runs while Cook scored 83. Their partnership came in just 318 balls.

England players celebrate the dismissal of players at Wankhede Stadium on Day 3 at the 2nd cricket test match in Mumbai.

England players at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

England players celebrate the dismissal of Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar at Wankhede Stadium on Day 3 at the 2nd cricket test match in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Sachin Tendulkar failed to rescue his side at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Monty Panesar took wickets of Virendra Sehwag (9), Sachin Tendulkar (8), Yuvraj Singh (8), MS Dhoni (6) and R Ashwin (11) while Greame Swann picked wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara (6) and Virat Kohli (7).

India were 117/7 with leading England by 31 runs at the close of day at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

England looked headed for a huge total but after Kevin Pietersen's downfall, the tailenders crumbled under constant pressure of the Indian spinners.

England players celebrate the dismissal of Cheteshwar Pujara at Wankhede Stadium on Day 3 at the 2nd cricket test match in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

There were ominous signs for India for the rest of the series with Pietersen comfortably negotiating the spinners and taking them for runs.

English spinner Monty Panesar takes five for 61 after England take 86-run first innings lead.

England firmly grabbed the driver's seat on Day 3 at the 2nd cricket test match in Mumbai with India struggling at 117/7 in their second innings.

Panesar at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Monty Panesar was in devastating form on Day 3 at the 2nd cricket test match in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Monty Panesar at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Monty Panesar (left) on Day 3 at the 2nd cricket test match in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Monty Panesar took five wickets to leave England on the verge of victory over India in the second Test.

Left-handed opener Gambhir on November 25 said it has happened in the past when India wriggled itself out of difficult situations.

India are facing a crushing defeat against England in the second Test but an optimistic Gautam Gambhir is hoping that a miracle would happen and turn around things for them on November 26, 2012.

Gautam Gambhir only strikes half century at Wankhede Stadium against India on Day 3 at the 2nd cricket test match in Mumbai on Sunday, November 25, 2012.