Cricket: 'It was such a relief to have got my ton' Cook's ready for finale.

Byline: By RICHARD GIBSON in Port of Spain 

ALASTAIR COOK is relieved to have put his century drought behind him as England head into the must-win final Test at Queen's Park Oval tomorrow.

Essex opener Cook struck an unbeaten 139 in the bore draw in Barbados earlier this week, which ended hopes of a series victory for the tourists and means they need to defeat West Indies here to salvage a 1-1 stalemate.

It was the 24-year-old's first hundred at Test level since December 2007 and halted a string of 11 unconverted half-centuries, including a score of 94 in the first innings at Kensington Oval.

"To finally get one was certainly a relief after 14 months of not scoring a hundred, and 12 months of not scoring one in any form of cricket," admitted Cook. "No matter how many times you talk about it, until you actually do it the doubts are still there."

Jitters got the better of him when he reached the 80s on day one, but he was able to reach an eighth hundred at Test level on day five as the match meandered to its inevitable conclusion.

"I definitely got more anxious about it in the first innings," said Cook. "I was that desperate to do it. The second innings was under slightly different circumstances, and I definitely changed the way I played leading up to the 90s and in the 90s."

England are hoping for an improvement - or more accurately a reduction in quality - in the pitch in Trinidad, having been presented with two ultra-friendly batting surfaces since losing in Jamaica.

"I think pitches should offer a little bit of everything, whether they're flat for a couple of days and then deteriorate or start off with a bit in and become easier,"

Cook added. "We want to watch exciting cricket, and that's when all results are possible rather than just one."

Although England are attempting to concentrate on levelling the campaign, events in Lahore inevitably have been in their minds.

Cook's former England under-19s coach Paul Farbrace, now assistant coach of Sri Lanka, was one of those who suffered shrapnel wounds in the attack.

"It is a horrible situation - and when people have lost their lives, talking about a cricket match feels pretty insignificant," added the England opener.

"Stuff like that does hit home how quickly life can change.

"It is only a cricket match, and security has to be at the forefront of our thoughts when we go to places.

"Every case has to be assessed at the time, and security will be in people's minds when theymake decisions on whether to go to places on the sub-continent at the moment."

England's practice yesterday was switched away from the Queen's Park Oval to a local school ground because of unsatisfactory net facilities, which has been a recurring theme of the tour.

Changes in the bowling unit will be contemplated. But one man guaranteed his place is Graeme Swann, whose recently-acquired position of England's number one Test spinner is reflected in the fact he will play this match and forego the one-day series to have elbow surgery.

Worcestershire's Gareth Batty will take Swann's place in the one-day set-up.

Samit Patelwas yesterday axed from the squad for the upcoming limited-overs series in the Caribbean because of his unacceptable physical condition.

CAPTION(S):

England's Alastair Cook yesterday; Graeme Swann