Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Cook’s knock of 72 is his highest score in the series so far

England captain Alastair Cook led from the front on the second day of the third Test in Perth as he scored a magnificent 72 to even things up.

Cook was well supported by his opening partner, Michael Carberry, who scored an impeccable 43.

Starting out the day on 326/6, Australia batsman Steven Smith and left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Johnson failed to add any runs onto their 59-run partnership as Johnson was caught behind off the bowling of Stuart Broad for 39.

Smith was able to add eight runs onto his overnight score of 103 before being caught behind off the bowling of James Anderson.

Initially, the on-field umpire, Marais Erasmus, did not give it out, but Cook decided to review the decision and Real Time Snicko revealed that the ball had touched Smith’s bat.

Smith’s outstanding knock of 111 came off 208 balls and included 14 boundaries and two sixes.

Ryan Harris only managed to score 12 runs before edging a delivery from Anderson to Joe Root at gully.

Peter Siddle amassed a quickfire 21 runs before being caught behind off the bowling of Tim Bresnan.

Nathan Lyon remained undefeated on 17.

Broad was the pick of the England bowlers with three wickets, while Anderson and Graeme Swann snapped up two wicket apiece and Bresnan and Ben Stokes chipped in with one wicket each as Australia were bowled out for 385.

Trailing by 385, England got off to a excellent as their opening pair of Cook and Carberry put together a brilliant 85-run partnership before Carberry was clean bowled by Harris.

Joe Root only managed to score four runs before being caught behind off the bowling of Shane Watson.

Cook brought up his 34th half-century before hitting a delivery from Lyon straight to Warner at point.

Cook’s excellent innings of 72 came off 153 deliveries and included 10 boundaries.

Kevin Pietersen was only able to amass 19 runs before being brilliantly caught by Johnson at mid-off off the bowling of Siddle.

During his innings, Pietersen became only the fifth English batsman to score 8,000 Test runs.

Ian Bell and Stokes amassed an unbeaten 34-run partnership before stumps was called.

Bell finished on nine off 62 balls, which included one boundary, while Stokes remained undefeated on 14 off 43 deliveries, which included three boundaries.

Harris, Siddle, Watson and Lyon all picked up one wicket apiece.

England ended the day on 180/4 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:30 local time or 02:30 GMT.