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Openers rule as England roars back
Source: Agencies |
November 29, 2010, Monday
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OPENERS Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook both posted centuries yesterday to wipe out England's first innings deficit and bring the tourists right back into the first Ashes test against Australia.
Starting the fourth day 202 runs in arrears in Brisbane, England had reached 309-1 with a lead of 88 at the close of play with Cook on 132 and Jonathan Trott (54) at the crease.
Although they could not match the heights of Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin's partnership of 307 that put Australia in charge on the third day, Strauss and Cook's opening stand of 188 could end up being just as important at the end of the five-test series.
Where touring sides of recent years might have crumbled, Strauss and Cook showed England's boasts of its team's resilience was not just talk.
"It was very important that we came back into the game today," said England captain Strauss. "Yesterday was a very frustrating day for us and some of our batmen needed to score some runs today. Fortunately Alastair and I were able to."
Strauss was removed for a duck in the third ball of the first innings but seized his chance in the second to claim his 19th test century - his first since his 161 in the Lords Ashes test last July - soon after lunch.
Cook had scored more slowly but was given fewer chances than his skipper and clinched his 14th century, only his second against Australia, with a cut shot that sent the ball fizzing to the boundary just after tea to add to his first innings 67.
By that stage England's best partnership in a test at the Gabba had been broken with Strauss falling to spinner Marcus North, stumped for 110 by Haddin. Cook was joined by Trott, who rode his luck a little with some loose shots but helped put on 121 for the second wicket.
Questions will be asked about the Australian pacemen, in particular Mitchell Johnson, who failed to get anything out of the Gabba strip and remains wicketless in the test at the cost of 131 runs.
Starting the fourth day 202 runs in arrears in Brisbane, England had reached 309-1 with a lead of 88 at the close of play with Cook on 132 and Jonathan Trott (54) at the crease.
Although they could not match the heights of Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin's partnership of 307 that put Australia in charge on the third day, Strauss and Cook's opening stand of 188 could end up being just as important at the end of the five-test series.
Where touring sides of recent years might have crumbled, Strauss and Cook showed England's boasts of its team's resilience was not just talk.
"It was very important that we came back into the game today," said England captain Strauss. "Yesterday was a very frustrating day for us and some of our batmen needed to score some runs today. Fortunately Alastair and I were able to."
Strauss was removed for a duck in the third ball of the first innings but seized his chance in the second to claim his 19th test century - his first since his 161 in the Lords Ashes test last July - soon after lunch.
Cook had scored more slowly but was given fewer chances than his skipper and clinched his 14th century, only his second against Australia, with a cut shot that sent the ball fizzing to the boundary just after tea to add to his first innings 67.
By that stage England's best partnership in a test at the Gabba had been broken with Strauss falling to spinner Marcus North, stumped for 110 by Haddin. Cook was joined by Trott, who rode his luck a little with some loose shots but helped put on 121 for the second wicket.
Questions will be asked about the Australian pacemen, in particular Mitchell Johnson, who failed to get anything out of the Gabba strip and remains wicketless in the test at the cost of 131 runs.
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