First Test - Day Four
England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook both hit centuries as we fought back superbly on day four of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba Gabba Hey. England had resumed 202 runs behind on 19-0 with Australia sensing victory. But Skipper Strauss (110) put on 188 with Cook (132 not out) in an English record stand at Brisbane, and vice Captain Cook then added 121 with Jonathan Trott (54 not out). The tourists went to stumps on 309-1 and lead the Aussies by 88 runs, with the draw looking the likely outcome. Soon to be ex-Australian Captain (First Aussie to lose three Ashes Series!) Ricky Ponting's could not have have envisaged his side only managing one wicket in the entire day - but that was precisely what happened, with Australia hampered by the flat wicket and their own modest bowling attack.
The Aussies made things hard for themselves by spilling catches. Strauss was badly dropped by Mitchell Johnson on 69, Cook gave a much harder opportunity to Peter Siddle at fine leg on 103 and Trott also gave a technical chance to Michael Clarke at point on 34. A torrid battle for survival appeared to be the order of the day for England at the start of Sunday's play at the Gabba. They had been put under the cosh by Mr Cricket Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin, and the situation appeared bleak.
However, there was no swing or seam, and little encouragement for the spinners either - with the only danger for the batsmen being the cracks in the pitch which, if Australia's bowlers could locate them, might cause the odd ball to misbehave. Cook looked in a little danger early on, edging Siddle wide of third slip, and then playing an ambitious slog sweep at Xavier Doherty when the debutant spinner came on which was top-edged high into the air before landing between fielders. Both men were positive, confident enough to hit a series of cut shots and off-drives as Australia looked to locate their outside edges. With typical sparse home support, the usual rowdy contingent of England fans were able to make themselves heard as Strauss and Cook dominated proceedings.They scored quickly, Strauss raising the 100 with a driven four off the first ball of Siddle's second spell some 40 minutes before lunch.
Eschewing a more cautious approach, Strauss was soon down the track to Doherty hitting a catch towards mid-off, but XXXX Johnson spilled an easy catch and at lunch England were encouragingly positioned on 135-0, with Strauss on 79, Cook on 51.
Strauss's 15th boundary, a late cut off Doherty gave him his 19th Test hundred, to join Sir Len Hutton at equal sixth place in the all-time list of England century-makers. It also ended a run of 13 Tests without a three-figure score, the last coming in the 2009 Ashes win at Lord's, although he swiftly fell to the part-time spin of Marcus North, stumped as he tried to hit an off-break over the bowler's head. Jonathon Trott proved an excellent second companion for Cook, however, hitting a lovely cover-drive for four off Johnson to take England into the lead, and the pair of the them were able to raise a 50-run stand off just 70 balls just before tea.
Cook began the the final session needing just two runs to secure his 12th Test century and second on Australian soil, and he got there with yet another cut off Siddle. Even when the new ball was taken moments later, there was not enough spark or belief from the Australians, and consequently Cook and Trott continued to find life comfortable. The second 100-run stand of the day was raised when Johnson was mercilessly pulled by Cook for another boundary and when bad light brought a slightly early finish, the Aussies looked relieved to head to the dressing room.
The Jardine Report: England's fight back had begun the day before with the dismissal of Hussey, since that attempted stab at a vainglorious six to top off a double century the momentum has swung England's way. Whilst there is still a lot of work to do to make the game safe, the English team will be delighted with the fightback, the speed with which the Aussies crumbled and perhaps most tellingly the lack of support from the Australian crowd.
