Australia vs England 4th Test Day 2: Cook leads England’s fightback with unbeaten 104

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Alastair Cook century Australia England Ashes cricket

Alastair Cook soaks in the moment after scoring his 32nd Test century

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Opening batsman Alastair Cook spearheaded England’s brilliant counter-attack on the second day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne with an unbeaten 104.

Starting off the day on 244/3, Australia only added 16 runs to their overnight score before captain Steve Smith was clean bowled by debutant Tom Curran for 76, which came off 156 balls and included eight boundaries.

Mitchell Marsh only made nine runs, while his brother Shaun, who started the day on 31, went on to score 61 off 148 deliveries, which included eight boundaries.

Following Shaun Marsh’s dismissal, Stuart Broad and James Anderson sliced through Australia’s lower order, which led to the hosts being bowled out for 327.

Broad was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Anderson snapped up three, Chris Woakes took two and Curran chipped in with one.

Trailing by 327 runs, England lost Mark Stoneman early on as he was caught and bowled by Nathan Lyon for 15.

Cook and James Vince began to rebuild England’s innings, but just as they were nearing a 50-run partnership, Vince was given out lbw off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood for 17.

Vince opted not to review, but the decision would have been reversed had he done so as replays showed that there was an inside edge.

Despite the loss of Vince, Cook and captain Joe Root ensured England concluded the day on a high as they put together an unbeaten 112-run partnership, during which Cook brought up his hundred.

Cook finished on 104 off 166 balls, which included 15 boundaries, while Root remained undefeated on 49 off 105 deliveries, which included six boundaries.

Lyon and Hazlewood claimed one wicket each.

England ended day two on 192/2 and will continue batting on Thursday at 10:30 local time or 23:30 GMT (the day before).

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