The Ashes: England cooking up tasty victory

Alastair Cook is now averaging 127 from his seven innings Down Under.

Sir Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, Herbert Sutcliffe; these names are the elite of English cricketing legends and Alastair Cook (189) is undoubtedly writing himself into Wisdens history books.Unfazed by who was sending down the next delivery, the opener went about his business in sublime fashion, almost as if the ball was magnetised to his bat as he tore in to a bewildered bowling attack.

Until he fell after another lengthy stay at the crease, the 26-year-old barely put a foot wrong to give him a total of 766 runs Down Under, a feat that leaves only Wally Hammond (905 in 1928-29) ahead of him for total runs scored by an Englishman in any Test series. The mind boggles at how a his average of 21.76 in six summer Tests could produce such a return that even the bravest of punters wouldnt have had money on.

He never allowed a bowler to settle, eventually forcing Michael Clarke to turn to Mike Hussey, a man with only two Test wickets to his name. Assisted by Ian Bells (115) first century on tour, the pair put on 154 runs, a Sydney Cricket Ground record for an English sixth wicket partnership.

We have used every superlative that the English dictionary holds to emphasise the Bradmanesque performances put on show by Englands vice-captain; the determination, patience and concentration displayed have measured him beyond his years. His seven innings at the crease, totaling 36 hours and 11 minutes, have elevated him from a self-doubting fledgling, like that of a boy taking his first steps at a new school, to that of a masterful tactician who yesterday showed no qualms with the scoreboard, but only with each ball that was sent his way.

By far the best batting day of the Test, und! er clear skies and with the leather zipping through on to willow it was always going to be a long day for the hosts. Cooks reprieve yesterday held him in good stead, with terrific restraint shown as each drive, pull or glance barely left the turf.

A heart-thumping moment came when the ice-cool Cook sent a mistimed flick toward Phil Hughes at short-leg when on the dreaded 99. Hughes went up, albeit with a lack of real conviction initially, but a blatant bounce in the replays infuriated many of the travelling contingent, none more so than Sir Ian Botham, who went as far to say that the Aussies were reverting to the dreaded c word.

Granted he may not have known, but the manner in which he celebrated was that of a poor sport. The following run for Cook warranted only in only a few members of Clarkes team bringing their hands together for his knock, a bitter taste had landed in the mouths of many supporters watching on.

But the only real blemishes on an otherwise flawless display came with James Andersons (6) stumps being rearranged and the ongoing barren streak of Paul Collingwood (13). Further calls for Bell to be promoted to number five will be hailed as he outplayed his predecessor yet again, measuring textbook drives with a newfound ability to take the game to spin bowlers, a quality he learnt in the harshest of manners against Shane Warne in the 2005 Ashes campaign.

It was his 30th attempt at a century in an Ashes series, and no player deserved it more after such consistency toward the end of an innings that ultimately resulted in batting with the tail. To have a partner in Cook allowed the Warwickshire player to persist and remain level-headed as neither had any intention of handing their wicket over to a desperate attack.

The lead held by Andrew Strausss men, already over 200, will almost certainly prove too much for Clarkes men. Even if they overhauled the deficit, an imposing total looks unlikely considering the current squads indifferent form and experience.

So with the ! stadium bathed in the pink glow of the Jane McGrath Foundation, a charity set up by Glenn McGrath in honour of his late wife, England have once again put themselves in a position where victory is peeking the horizon.

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