Imperious Cook carries England to lead

A fifth career double ton from Alastair Cook helped England establish a 164 run lead by stumps on day three of the fourth Ashes Test.
The innings was built around Cook (244*) with mere bit parts from most of the other England batsmen as the tourists moved to 491 for 9.
When play resumed on the third morning Joe Root was with Cook but the skipper couldn’t hang around with Pat Cummins inducing an awful pull shot to have him caught in the deep for 61.
Dawid Malan (14) struggled to get steeled before Josh Hazlewood trapped him leg before to leave England 246 for 4.
England went to lunch on 264 for 4 with Jonny Bairstow keeping Cook company but two quick Nathan Lyon strikes after the break threatened to initiate another collapse.
“You never write off a champion player and he’s certainly been a champion player” – Ricky Ponting during the Perth Test… #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ooAsMMwnsl
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 28, 2017
Lyon will end the year as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with the only man who could overtake him, Kagiso Rabada of South Africa only able to bag a few scalps in their boxing day clash with Zimbabwe.
The off-spinner got Jonny Bairstow (22) to nick off with a loose shot and the Moeen Ali (20) lasted just 14 balls and would go down as yet another Englishman who threw his wicket away.
Cook was put down on 66 on day two by Steve Smith and the skipper would again grass a chance when the England opener was on 153.
Chris Woakes dug in for his 26 adding 61 runs for the seventh wicket and allowing England to move past Australia’s total of 327.
Woakes was undone by a Cummins short ball to have England 366 for 7 and it seemed their innings would fade out as Tom Curran (4) was adjudged caught behind on review nshortly afterwards.
But Stuart Broad, under pressure for his performance with the ball in Perth, turned up with the bat.
Cook and Broad put on a gutsy 100 run partnership for the ninth wicket to give England the edge.
It was given out on the field, but what’s your call? #CloseMatters#Ashes @Gillette pic.twitter.com/Pqctz8CT4n
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 28, 2017
Broad (56) was dismissed late in the day in a moment of controversy with replays inconclusive in determining whether Usman Khawaja had completed the catch of the bowling of Cummins.
Jimmy Anderson survived fifteen balls without scoring while Cook kept the scoreboard ticking towards five hundred having batted all day in a monumental effort.
Australia missed the penetration of Mitchell Starc with his replacement Jackson Bird going wicketless in his 30 overs so far.
Latest
-
News
England make early inroads as Stuart Broad strikes
Sri Lanka slipped to 65 for three on the first morning after opting to bat in Galle.
-
News
Jos Buttler: I felt anxious and out of place at start of international career
Buttler admits to feeling daunted at being in close proximity to established stars.
-
News
Jacques Kallis admits to warming to the idea of helping arch enemy England
The South African is the third-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket.
-
News
Graham Onions admits coaching chance is a huge relief after premature retirement
A back issue sustained on the eve of the Bob Willis Trophy led to the 38-year-old announcing his retirement.
-
News
England fan who waited in Sri Lanka for 10 months excited for cricket to begin
Rob Lewis, who has been in Sri Lanka since March, does not know how he will watch the game, but has been offered a Zoom call with Joe Root.
-
News
Dimuth Karunaratne: We have learned from past errors against England
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has challenged his side not to make the same mistakes that saw them slump to a 3-0 series loss.
-
News
I’ve known Dan Lawrence was destined for greatness since he was 16 – Nick Browne
Lawrence was tipped for the top even before his maiden first-class century in 2015.
-
News
Dom Bess could really make mark on Sri Lanka tour, says England captain Joe Root
England captain Joe Root has tipped Dom Bess to use spinning conditions in Galle to prove he can be a leading man in Test cricket.
-
News
On this day in 2009 – Matthew Hayden calls time on international career
The Australia opener scored 8,625 runs in 103 Tests with 30 centuries.
-
News
Justin Langer backs Tim Paine and Steve Smith after criticism
Head coach Justin Langer has come to the defence of Tim Paine and Steve Smith after the pair were criticised for their actions.