By hook or by Cook: England take firm grip over Adelaide

Alastair Cook again proved to be an immovable force to blunt Australias bowlers and put England in a commanding position in the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval

Alastair Cook again proved to be an immovable force to blunt Australias bowlers and put England in a commanding position in the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. It was long hot day in the field with scant reward for the frazzled Australians as Cook continued to be the marathon man of the series with his second century.

England cruised past Australias first innings total of 245 some 23 overs before stumps and closed out the second day at 317/2. Cook followed up his unbeaten 235 in Brisbane to be still there on 136 with Kevin Pietersen,not out on 85,threatening to unleash a big score on Sunday. The pair has put on an unbroken third wicket partnership of 141 runs.

Vice-captain Cook has already amassed 438 runs in three innings in this series at an average of 438 and has spent all but 11 overs in the field in the first seven days of the series. The Essex left-hander helped himself to four with a cut off ineffectual spinner Xavier Doherty to raise his 15th Test hundred and third against Australia.

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Cook holds the revealing statistic of scoring his Test centuries before his 26th birthday,equal with Australian icon Don Bradman at the same age and only bettered by Indias Sachin Tendulkar.

Australia had early joy with the wicket of skipper Andrew Strauss in the days opening over,but apart from Jonathan Trotts dismissal for 78 before tea it was unquestionably Englands day.

Brief scores: Aus 245 vs Eng 317/4 (A Cook batting 136,J Trott 78,KP batting 85; Harris 1/51).

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