Australia v England – Story of day two

Alastair Cook completed his century in the last over before stumps at the MCG as he and fellow Ashes heavyweight Stuart Broad belatedly kickstarted their campaigns this winter to put Australia under pressure at last.

Broad came into this fourth Test with just five wickets in the series, amid calls from some to leave him out as England try to avoid a 5-0 whitewash, while all-time national record runscorer Cook had failed to muster a half-century in his six innings down under.

Mixed feelings therefore inevitably prevailed as, with the urn already gone, Broad burst into life first with four for 51 as Australia lost their last seven wickets for 67 to be bowled out for 327, and then Cook (104no) steered England to 192 for two alongside Joe Root (49no) on day two.

Tweet of the day

Bit late, though, chaps?

Broad and Cook have made a tardy arrival at what was supposed to be their own party. The poppers are popped, and the urn is of course long gone. Neither Test great is done with yet, it turns out, but this winter they did not produce the goods when England truly needed them to.

Shot of the day

Alastair Cook greeted the return of Jackson Bird with a back-foot force straight past the bowler for four, to move to 25. As on several occasions on his curiously unproductive tour, confusingly it appeared already to be the shot of an in-form batsman.

Off-colour Aussies

The injury-enforced absence here of the series’ leading wicket-taker Mitchell Starc has given England a window of opportunity. When Pat Cummins was ailing as well, periodically out the attack and off the field with a stomach upset, suddenly it seemed perhaps the effort expended as the hosts have surged into an unassailable 3-0 was beginning to take a toll.

Stat of the day

Seven for 67 – There was an England-esque ring to Australia’s collapse as the tourists returned fire at last in a previously all too one-sided series.

What next?

England badly need to finish what they have started, after fluffing their lines from similar positions elsewhere.