Cook leads valiant fightback

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott set a series of records as Ashes opener ends in a draw at the Gabba.

BRISBANE:

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott set a series of records after dominating Australia over the final two days of the Ashes opener which ended in a draw at the Gabba.

England ensured they would not be beaten in the first match of their Ashes defence after conceding a 221-run innings deficit when Cook and Trott shared England’s highest partnership in Australia of 329 runs. Cook became only the fourth Englishman to score a Test double-century in Australia with his unconquered 235, while Trott hit 135 not out before skipper Andrew Strauss called a halt at 517 for one.

Australia tried to avoid further collateral damage in their 26 overs to the close and were 107 for one when the match finished in a draw. Ricky Ponting scored his 56th Test half-century to be 51 not out and Shane Watson was on 41.

“The resilience to come back into the game, being in a pretty dire position after day three, speaks volumes for the characters of the likes of Cooky and Trotty,” said Strauss. “We’ve also proved over a while now that we’re a hard side to beat and that gives us more confidence going forward.”

Ponting, despite his team losing a seemingly-winning position, said, “There’s no doubt that we have a lot of improvement to do with our bowling group over the last couple of days.

“We didn’t bowl as well as we could as a group by any stretch of the imagination but it was a difficult wicket to bowl on.”

Records and personal bests kept tumbling for England on the anti-climactic last day as Cook and Trott pummelled the Australian bowlers. Cook joined Wally Hammond, Reg Foster and Paul Collingwood as double centurions with his 625-minute epic off 428 balls in the highest score by either team in 19 Ashes Tests at the Gabba. Their unbroken partnership surpassed the previous highest stand by England in Australia of 323 by Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes at Melbourne in 1911.

When Trott’s 100 came up it was the first time three English players had scored a century in an innings of a Test match since 1924. On that occasion the top three batsmen – Jack Hobbs (211), Herbert Sutcliffe (122) and Frank Woolley (134*) – all scored hundreds against South Africa at Lord’s.

Cook surpassed his previous highest Test score of 173 and also passed Ian Botham’s 138 as the highest English run scorer at the Brisbane ground, set back in 1986. Cook’s 235 not out was the sixth best Ashes score by an Englishman and he also surpassed Sir Don Bradman for the highest Test score at the Gabba.

Australia call up Bollinger, Harris

Changes are likely in the Australian team for the second Test after Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris were added to the squad after the first match.

Their inclusion in a 13-man squad follows the inability of Australia’s bowlers to capitalise on a 221-run innings lead and press for victory over the final two days of the Gabba Test.

Ponting indicated that Harris would be in line for selection.

“He’s had some niggling knee problems but the fitness staff I’ve spoken to believe that he will be fine for a Test match,” said Ponting. “We will get a good look at him over the next two days in Adelaide and see where he’s at. It’s nice to have him back around the group.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2010.