Engturnaround onCook’s32ndton
THE ASHES The former England captain gets his first Ashes ton in 6 years to help his side wrest initiative against Australia
Alastair Cook found some much-needed form as England dominated day two of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Cook, under fire after struggling as the tourists fell 3-0 behind in the series to give up the urn, brought up his 32nd Test century, finishing unbeaten on 104 at stumps here on Wednesday.
The left-handed opener and Joe Root (49 not out) put on an unbroken 112-run partnership as England finished the day on 192-2 in response to Australia’s 327.
It came after Australia failed to capitalise on a strong start, losing 67-7 to end their innings as Stuart Broad (4-51) also rediscovered form for England.
Adding to the hosts’ worries, Pat Cummins (0-39) battled an upset stomach, unable to bowl with his usual pace and energy.
Steve Smith also dropped Cook on 66 with a chance the Aussie captain would have expected to take. Resuming at 244-3, Australia looked capable of a huge firstinnings total, only to collapse as their opponents have throughout the series.
Smith (76), Mitchell Marsh (9) and Tim Paine (24) all chopped on, while Broad had Shaun Marsh (61) and Jackson Bird (4) lbw on his way to his best Test figures of the year. England debutant Tom Curran (1-65) – so unfortunate not to have his maiden Test scalp a day earlier when he thought he removed David Warner but was called for a no-ball – took the big wicket of Smith on a flat pitch.
Cook and Mark Stoneman (15) made a fine start in response, only for the latter to fall to Nathan Lyon (1-44), who took a wonderful one-handed return catch.
James Vince (17) was the next to go, lbw to Josh Hazlewood (1-39), deciding against reviewing despite replays showing he
Bowling: Anderson 29-11-61-3, Broad 28-10-51-4, Woakes 22-472-2, Ali 12-0-57-0, Curran 21-565-1, Malan 7-1-20-0
appeared to get an inside edge on the delivery.
That brought Root to the crease before Cook was given a huge life by Smith at slip.
On 66, Cook edged Mitchell Marsh (0-17) to slip with Paine standing up to the stumps, but the Australia captain was unable to hold onto the catch despite two attempts. Smith would offer Cook another gift before the close, opting to bowl the final over of the day as the latter belted a full toss and short ball for fours to bring up his century, to a rousing reception from the stands, on a superb day for England. Cook brought up his hundred in the final over of the day - a pulled four off the part-time spin of Smith earning a memorable moment of celebration for a player whose desire to continue at the highest level has been questioned.
MELBOURNE:
centuries by Cook is nine more than the next best for England — Kevin Pietersen at 23. innings without a 50 before this century is the longest such drought for him. Sand 11 months since Cook last made an Ashes century. His last one was 189 at Sydney in January, 2011.
That was Cookie at his best today. Some of the strokeplay was fantastic. The great thing about having him as your opening batsman is you know he’s not just happy with a hundred. He’s going to come back tomorrow and want to bat very big on that pitch They’ll be disappointed for sure (with Wednesday’s collapse), but it’s not the easiest pitch to come out and start on, so you can lose a couple of quick wickets in a row.. The Aussies will go away, they’ll regroup ... and I expect them to fight back tomorrow.