Cook ton saves England blushes

Cook raised his 32nd Test ton with a pull-shot to the fence in the final over before stumps, and strode off the ground unbeaten on 104, having pushed England to 192 for two on day two at a sweltering Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

His successor as captain, Joe Root, was 49 not out, the pair having helped reduce Australia’s lead to 135 runs. English cheer has been in short supply this series after Australia took back the urn with victory in Perth but Wednesday’s fightback thrilled sun-baked Britons in the raucous crowd of 67,882.

Stuart Broad, another Englishman under scrutiny after playing a negligible part in the series, captured 4-51 as Australia’s day one resistance melted in the morning heat. The host started the day in a position of strength at 244 for three but was bowled out for 327, losing its last seven wickets for 67 runs. 

“Bowling Australia out for 320-odd, we’re absolutely delighted,” Broad told reporters. ”We’re in a fantastic position in this Test match. “We want that scoreboard pressure going into getting those next 10 wickets.” 

After labouring on a slow and flat pitch on day one, England’s bowlers were transformed in the morning, with debutant paceman Tom Curran proving the unlikely catalyst. The 22-year-old Surrey seamer bowled Steve Smith for 76 with the second ball of his first spell, having the skipper drag a wider, short delivery onto his stumps. 

It not only secured Curran his first Test wicket but ended Smith’s unbeaten reign at the MCG sincehis last dismissal in the Boxing Day test against India in 2014.It was also a huge relief for Curran, who had opener David Warner caught on 99 on day one but missed out on the wicket for over-stepping his mark. 

Smith was one of three Australian batsmen out chopping onto the stumps, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (nine) and wicketkeeper Tim Paine (24) falling in the same fashion. The home captain finished a disappointing day by conceding 11 runs in the final over with his part-time leg-spin, allowing Cook his century.