Strauss under pressure as England consolidate at Lord’s

End of day four, Lord’s

England 149-2 and 486 lead Sri Lanka 479 by 156 runs with eight second innings wickets remaining

Oh the fickle flicks of the poison pen that points itself squarely at Andrew Strauss this evening. Two days ago it was Kevin Pietersen under scrutiny. One scratchy half-session later, he’s not the story any more. Instead it’s Strauss, for whom there is nothing like a pair of failures to crystallise a slump that has been looming for 18 months or so.

Let’s cut to it. In the 17 Tests since the start of the South Africa tour in December 2009 Strauss averages 32 with the bat, with a solitary hundred, in Brisbane. In that period the two LBWs to Welegedera mean he’s been dismissed 10 times by a left-arm seamer, nine in the last calendar year, five times in single figures. Sure, Mohammad Amir is talented, but there is a problem there. Strauss is struggling to locate his off-stump, the trigger movements so effective to right-arm bowlers negated by the angle, leaving him stuck on the crease. The worry for England is that the best left-armer in the world is arriving in a month or so. Oh, and they have history – Zaheer Khan already has Strauss’s wicket five times in Test cricket.

Fortunately for England, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott have some serious man-love going. In Trott’s 18 Tests they’ve managed over 1300 runs batting together, at an average of over 75. Today they bettered that, putting on 117 to calm the nerves of the 12 hardy souls in Lord’s after a testing period against the new ball. Trott was an unlikely aggressor, racing to 50 in 66 balls, the majority of his fours timed sweetly off his pads. Maybe it was his freedom that undid him, as Herath curled one up and down and under Trott as he looked to turn again.

Trott had looked so untroubled that it could be interpreted as a selfless act towards Kevin Pietersen – giving him the chance to face his demon head on. Pietersen’s first two defensive prods were cheered ironically by the crowd, and for a while it seemed to be the final straw as skittish shot followed aborted charge. Soon though he settled on a formula – if you can’t beat them, decapitate them – as one thumping straight drive seemed to settle the nerves a little, and the Pietersen who walked in at close looked a different man. It may be to his and England’s advantage if he can convince himself that his form-slump is based mainly around a mental block against slow left-armers, for there is little to boost confidence like feeling one has beaten a problem, and this problem should be trivial. At least for KP the issue is predominantly mental, not technical like in Strauss’s case.

Earlier the standout feature of England’s improved fielding display had been their catching, with Strauss and Graeme Swann holding sharp chances in the slips. Heck, even Cook caught one. It’s a reminder that good catching is the difference between a decent side and a very good one, especially when the bowling isn’t quite working. Steve Finn scabbed four wickets in the end, jaffas gleaming in the mud, as he overtook Ian Botham as the youngest England bowler to 50 Test wickets. England have a decision to make with Finn – he will take wickets but at this stage in his development they will also cost runs, and can they accommodate that in a four-man attack? With Jimmy Anderson back there is also a call to make on Stuart Broad, who has conceded a 100 runs before taking a wicket in both Tests so far.

As far as a result goes tomorrow, you wouldn’t bet on it, but then, after Cardiff, you wouldn’t bet against it either. England must be favourites for any result because of a potentially more incisive bowling attack, but that shouldn’t come into it on a flattish deck, especially when at 1-0 up with one to play it’s not in England’s interests to try and force a result. Watch this space.

Sam Collins is 50% of The Chuck Fleetwood-Smiths

3-1 Ashes victory for England

England have waited longer to win the Ashes in Australia than most people wait to lose their virginity.  But there were a couple of key differences between the two experiences. Thanks to intermittent rain and, the stubbornness of the Australian lower order, the 5^th day latest much longer than anticipated. The final result, however, was anything but an anti climax.

Collingwood led the England team onto the pitch, for what was his final day of Test cricket.  It took until the 12^th over of the morning, after a 45 minute rain delay, for Swann to get the first of the three remaining wickets. Siddle (43 from 45 balls) was the man to go, after an innings that is likely to have secured a spot for him in the Australian side, a slog sweep caught by Anderson on the square leg boundary, who promptly turned around to celebrate with the Barmy Army.

Anderson followed it up with a wicket of his own, Hilfenhaus edging behind to Prior for 7. Three overs later, Tremlett bowled Beer to cue emphatic celebrations from everyone who has followed on this long, eventful tour.

Unsurprisingly, Cook took Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards.

Cook on his series:

“If I can achieve what I have just achieved again, it would be amazing. I honestly can’t believe what I or the team have just done. We’ll enjoy today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

“We’ve had an amazing two months since we got here but we’ve already said that we still want to improve and Andy Flower wont let us have an easy time. He’ll just demand that we get better and better and I think that will only hold us in good stead.”

Strauss on the win:

“It feels pretty special. Until an ashes series is finally over you always have half an eye on what’s to come. Even after Melbourne we were still very conscious that we wanted to finish the series on a high and show people that we deserved to win the series. Now we’ve done that I think we can have a big sigh of relief and be very proud of what eve achieved, because not many sides have come out here and won, and certainly not many as emphatically as we did in the end. It’s going to be a dressing room full of pride this afternoon, and alcohol I would have thought!

“I think when you look back at the history of Ashes confrontations I think when you look at what we’ve achieved here it will be pretty special. And remembered pretty fondly I would think.

“Clearly it’s a very good achievement to come out here and win. Equally clearly the captain is only as good as the players he’s got. I think I will sit back at the end of my career and go that was one of the most special times in my career, definitely. But while I’m still captaining the side you are not doing your job properly if you are not looking forward to what’s to come and trying to get the guys improving as a side. I can’t pat my self on the back too much and even if I wanted to I don’t think the team would let me.”

Strauss on the margin of victory:

“I didn’t expect to win three Test matches by an innings. I think that what happens over the course of a Test series, once one side gets on top and wins emphatically then its very hard to come back because their confidence is up, and yours is lower and the teams drift apart a little bit. I think that’s where we got to in this Test match, I think we were as confident as we have ever been. That’s a great testament to what happened earlier on in the series.

“It hasn’t felt easy. Brisbane was hard work. We were right behind the game after the first innings we obviously came back well in Adelaide. But Perth we were put to bed pretty quickly so there is always a feeling that you don’t know what is around the corner and what is going to be sprung on you. Thankfully as the series has gone on I think we have become more dominant, I think these last two Test matches were as good as England side I’ve played in before.”

Strauss on the formula to England’s success:

“There are no real secrets, you’ve seen what our side is all about. It’s about discipline and patience, building pressure and relying on performances from 11 people. It’s not often you get as many people in great form as we have had on this tour, but when you do it’s a pretty hard force to stop.

“Our formula has been stuck to quite rigidly and it’s worked better and better. I don’t think its rocket science, you need to get the right people involved. I think we are very fortunate with the team that we have got at the moment that the best performers in England happen to be great team men which I think helps significantly. Guys just want to buy into something. They want to buy into the team, they want to buy into the thought that we are going somewhere as a unit and we are not going to leave anyone behind. It hasn’t been a particularly difficult thing to do.

“Players operate well when they know what their role is, and they have got to be given time to settle into that role. But if people aren’t capable of delivering that role then your systems will go pear shaped very quickly.”

Strauss on the fans back home:

“It’s hard to appreciate what it’s like in England. You get text messages through from people saying they are jet lagged and they haven’t slept for 7 weeks. It’s a brilliant thing for English sport when we do well. It gives people a lift in winter. People now will have high expectations of us.”

Strauss on the team:

“I certainly had a feeling after the last Ashes out here that the best way to compete here is to strangle the opposition. In order to do that you need very accurate bowlers. That was a thought that I had, and fortunately very accurate bowlers turned up at the right time for us.

“We’ve shown some good progress over the last 18 months or so and winning the Ashes in England was a good springboard for the last year or so. I think when you come out here you are slightly concerned because you know the pressure is going to be at its greatest, and it’s when you most need people to stand up and deliver. You are always wondering in the back of you mind are people going to do that. As you’ve seen, the guys have all done that and once one or two guys start doing it, it gives the others belief that they can do it.”

Strauss on Flower:

“He’s been immense. He’s an incredible bloke. He’s a guy that we all respect hugely, both what he’s achieved but also how he holds himself in the dressing room. Often you can’t describe what he brings to the side because it’s just a multitude of little things. Little conversations he has with people, little thoughts that he puts on to paper that he actually brings into fruition in practise. They way he works with the team and the back room staff is certainly as good as I’ve seen in international and county cricket.

“The vast majority of the work he does is behind closed doors, both in planning, preparation. The management team are always here an hour before us every morning making sure the practice is going to work. I don’t think he is doing the job for accolades, he’s doing it because he desperately wants England to improve. When he finishes he can look back and say he was part of something pretty special.”

Strauss on Collingwood

“I think Colly has been one of the great servants of English cricket. He’s played 68 Test matches; some people will look back on it and say there are a lot of people who’ve played more than him. But for the last eight or nine years he’s been very much part of the soul of the England side. He does a lot of things off the pitch that people don’t see he help out other players in the team. He does a lot of the hard yards that other people don’t want to do and he doesn’t get recognition for that. He’s going to be a big loss and I really do think he will be because he epitomises everything that this England side is about. We are going to miss him greatly. At the same time it gives people an opportunity to come in and fill that role for us.”

Strauss on the future:

“The majority of the side should be hitting their peak years in the next couple of years so that’s encouraging for us. We’ve always got to think about how we can improve and get better and hopefully one or two guys will be sticking up their hands and saying I can add something to this team as well.

“For me the most impressive thing is the number of runs we’ve scored consistently, which has been a weakness of ours in the past. So in that sense I’m excited about what we can achieve going forward. To be able to bowl like that day in day out over five Test matches is an exceptional effort. We’ve got some good depth and we are going to need it because the schedule is very tough and you are going to get injuries.

“I think we’ve proved that its possible for England sides to win out here. You just need a lot of guys to come out here and perform consistently. Australia are going to regenerate and come back stronger because that is how Australian sport is. I think we’ve overcome a barrier but if e turn up here next time and expect to win then we will get the treatment that we have had for the last 24 years.

“Of course I can improve. The more you do the job the more you learn, the more you develop your job, the more you improve your tactics, your thinking, the way you interact with people off the pitch. Experience counts for an awful lot. I’ve been doing the job a couple of years now and hopefully there is a couple left there.”

Collingwood: “The perfect moment to bow out”

Some people get a carriage clock as a retirement present. Paul Collingwood will get an Ashes victory.

Even the most patriotic of Australians, or the most media savvy English cricketer, would be hard pressed to deny that victory in this Test match, and indeed this series, will be England’s tomorrow.

As is fitting, on the day that Collingwood announced his retirement from Test cricket he was remembered for the great in his career, his dedication to his sport, and his achievements over the last seven years, rather than for his recent low scores. For much of his contribution cannot be quantified.

Collingwood has always strived to perform as an individual. He has worked hard on his fitness, his technique, and the limited abilities he has, to be the best that he could be.  But most importantly, he transferred that into the team, leading by example to those around him, and having a profound effect on his colleagues.

“Its always a sad moment hearing one of your teammates is retiring,” Matt Prior said at the end of play. “He’ll be sorely missed. But I think the part of the cricketer that you don’t see is the part away from the cricket ground. Everyone will know the stats and the important innings he’s played, the great catches he’s taken, the wickets he’s taken, that’s phenomenal.”

For those who never saw Bradman bat, his career figures told the story of his greatness. Future generations may hear of Paul Collingwood the guy who captained England to the world T20, or Collingwood, one of England’s best fielders. But it would be a slight on Brigadier Block if they do not understand how integral he was to creation of this victorious team England team that he now leaves behind.

“It’s what a bloke like Colly brings to the dressing room,” Prior continued. “He’s definitely been one of the catalysts to this team being where it is now, why the team spirit is like it is, and how close this team is. Those are the things that are very important to this team. It’s what happens in that dressing room behind closed doors. Colly will be sorely missed from that point of view.”

It’s not only his teammates that see it, but his peers in the game.

“I’m pretty sure he’s played a significant part in that development of the England team and their rise to what they are doing now,” Australian opener Shane Watson said. “Obviously he’s done some great work around the team.”

England have outplayed Australia in the majority of this series. But it is not just their efforts over the last six weeks that has earned them this victory. England have been preparing for this series since the final wicket fell in the last Test match at the Oval last summer, but the new phase of England cricket in all formats has been built upon the foundations of Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss. Collingwood is Strauss’s most trusted confidant in the England team, and has no doubt been integral to the decisions and tactics employed by the men in control.

“I wouldn’t change a thing about the way my career has been.” Collingwood said. “The players I’ve played with in that England dressing room have been absolutely exceptional, and I can safely say that the environment that we have got in that dressing room now is a very special place and that’s why its hard to leave. But its definitely the right time and you’ve got to give the opportunity to the younger guys.”

Collingwood called this the “perfect moment” to bow out, and described victory here against the Aussies as the pinnacle of his career.

“I’ve played the last year just to get into this series I think,” Collingwood said. “I had a good series in South Africa which pretty much cemented my place for this series. This has been a special kind of series for me. 2005 at the Oval was special, but although I haven’t scored the runs out here I haven’t been able to take the smile off my face. This has been something that I have been waiting for a long time. Last time we were here four years ago I actually managed to score runs and we were beaten 5-0. I much prefer it this way round this time.

“In many ways it’s a sad moment but I honestly think it’s the right time, and in many ways it’s the perfect moment. This is what I have been playing the game of cricket for, to be in this position against Australia like this and it is going to be the perfect moment to bow out of Test cricket. I am happy with the contributions I’ve made to England cricket team in the Test format and I think there are a lot of young players coming through. This team will progress without me and get better and better so I’m looking forward to tomorrow as a final farewell.”

There have been calls throughout this series for Collingwood’s retirement, and it was something that was already in his mind before the tour.

“It was always an option,” he said. “You don’t know until you go through the emotions and you are playing the game, but my form hasn’t helped. I am very realistic.

“I spoke to my wife in Melbourne about it and I pretty much made the decision about three days ago one hundred percent. I knew that was probably going to be my last innings. I was hoping it was going to be a fairytale story and I would go out there and crack a 100.”

It wasn’t to be, but Collingwood has never been one to put personal glory over team achievement.

“I think that’s one of the reasons why I’m moving on,” he said, of the teams’ ambitions to become number one in the world rankings. “This team can go as far as they want to . The skills that they have produced with the ball, getting 20 wickets on flat pitches over here.  We are bowling as a unit like the old Australian team used to bowl. It’s very hard to score runs against us. Our batting has gone from strength to strength. The guys will take a hell of a lot of confidence into future series from the way that they’ve played out here.

“They are very eager to improve all the time. The work ethic that they have, that’s one of the things I’ll miss. But I’m very much looking forward to watching them in the future. They will be a very special side.”

It was a big day for Matt Prior, who completed his first Test century against Australia, and took four catches to take his tally in the series to 21, the second highest by an English wicket keeper in a Test series.

“It would be pretty tricky to beat today,” Prior said. “At the SCG, on an Ashes Test, to get 100 then a few catches, and have them seven down. We’re in a pretty good position to win tomorrow, so today would have to be right up there (with the best day of my career) certainly.

“Obviously it was a great to win the Ashes in England. But to come over here knowing the history, knowing it’s been 24 years since it was last done, the amount of hard work and preparation that has gone into this tour all comes good today and tomorrow. It’s a fantastic feeling. The Barmy Army were again absolutely fantastic. To be there with your mates on the field with all that hard work, preparation, training and planning makes it all the sweeter.”

England only need three wickets for victory in the morning. Australia collapsed to 171-7, triggered by Shane Watson, who brought about his own demise, involved in the seventh run out of his career.

It was the fourth Australian run out of this series. Hughes pushed to mid-wicket for what should have been an easy single. Watson came back for the second, Hughes stuttering, then returning to his crease. Watson arrived at the non-strikers end with a look of horror on his face as he turned to see Prior remove the bails. It was a sorry sight for any Australian.

“It’s an horrendous situation to be involved in,” said Watson. “It’s something I have got to work on because it’s not good enough. The top of the order is hard enough as it is let alone with run outs. It can’t keep happening.”

England should have a 3-1 series victory wrapped up by lunch time tomorrow. It will be a special moment for the whole team, but particularly Collingwood, who admitted that it will be an emotional experience for him.

“I’m a softie really to be honest,” he said. “There were times tonight when I got goose bumps. I always said I wanted to bow out in England in front of the English fans. But that felt like home tonight with the atmosphere out there. It was special, all the lads standing in the slips; we all had goose bumps going up our arms. It’s an amazing atmosphere and it honestly feels like the perfect moment. Tomorrow hopefully we can finish them off pretty quick and it’s going to be the best way to bow out.

“It was always a dream of mine to play Test cricket. To me this is the ultimate form of the game. I’ve given it my all and that’s all you can do as a player. I am very proud to be able to say that.”

Collingwood says goodbye to Test cricket

In his 68 match Test career, Paul Collingwood offered the whole package as a player. He scored 4,246 runs, took 16 wickets, and 97 catches. But his figures do not do justice to a man who earned the respect of all he played with. Nicknamed Brigadier Block, he will be remembered for his ability to remain at the crease for long periods of time, his excellent ability in the field, and his character and presence within the team.

DEC 03: Collingwood makes his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Galle. His 36 from 153 balls helped England cling on to a draw, and was a perfect example of the type of innings he would become famed for, earning him the nickname ‘Brigadier Block’.

SEPT 05:  He took part in the decisive final Test of the home Ashes series, helping secure a draw to win the series 2-1. He scored only 17 in what was his third Test match for England in almost two years, and his first against Australia, but he was awarded an MBE along with the rest of the squad.

MAR 06: Collingwood scores his maiden Test century in his sixth Test for England, 134* against India at Nagpur.

DEC 06: Collingwood scores his career high, 206, in the second Test at Adelaide. Despite amassing 551 in their first innings, England went on to lose the Test, and experience a 5-0 drubbing in the series.

MAY/JUNE 07: Collingwood makes two more Test centuries in the 3-0 series win against the West Indies in England

AUG 08: After a poor home series against New Zealand, Collingwood resigns as ODI captain, concerned that it was affecting his form.

JULY 09: In perhaps his most famous innings, Collingwood blocks out for almost six hours at Cardiff, to save England from what looked a certain Australian victory in the first Ashes Test. His 74 came from 245 balls, and ensured that Anderson and Monty only had to survive 66 balls to the close. England went on to win the Ashes 2-1, although Collingwood managed on 112 more runs in the series.

DEC 09: Brigadier Block rules again, batting for two and a half hours against South Africa at Centurion for an unbeaten 26, to draw the match for England.

JAN 10: On the same tour, he performed a similar function, batting for four and a half hours to ensure another draw. South Africa went on to win last Test, drawing the series one all.

MAR 10: In his last big score in Test cricket, Collingwood makes 145 against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Since then, he has scored 131 runs in 14 innings at 13.83.

DEC 10: Collingwood has a poor Ashes series with the bat, scoring just 70 in the first four Test matches, but the England team celebrate retaining the Ashes for the first time abroad in 24 years.

JAN 11: Collingwood announces his retirement from Test cricket, with effect from the end of final Ashes test at the SCG. He bowls Mike Hussey with his final ball of the first innings, but makes just 13 with the bat.

England on course for victory

After facing 11 balls after lunch, and posting their highest ever total on Australian soil, England had amassed a lead of 364 when the final wicket fell.

Australia made a decent start in response, until Shane Watson brought about the seventh run out of his career. In the fourth Australian run out of this series, Hughes pushed to mid-wicket for what should have been an easy single. Watson came back for the second, Hughes stuttering, then returning to his crease. Watson, arrived at the non-strikers end with a look of horror on his face as he turned to see Prior remove the bails. It was a sorry sight for any Australian.

Bresnan did for Hughes, a fuller ball getting an edge that Prior leapt in front of first slip to take.

None of the top four batsmen for Australia have made a century in this series. The stats speak for themselves.

Prior ton adds to Australian woes

England continued to rub the Aussies noses in the dirt at the SCG, heading in to lunch on 636-9. It equals their highest score on Australian soil, also at the SCG, in 1928/29.

Matthew Prior raced to his first Test century against Australia, and the fastest for an Englishman in an Ashes Test since Botham in 1981.

He and Bresnan reached their 100 run partnership, before Bresnan (35) edged to Clarke in slips.

Another front foot no ball review from the umpires almost reprieved Prior, caught behind on 113. In a tough third umpire call, Hilfenhaus was judged to have millimetres of his boot over the line, and England’s third centurion of the innings was out.

Swann enjoyed some more buffet bowling from Australia, his 33* including 3 fours and a six; a top edged hook off Johnson.

Out of desperation rather than belief, Clarke reviewed a swipe from Swann off Siddle, but replays confirmed no edge.

Earlier in the day, Paul Collingwood announced his retirement from Test cricket, with effect from the end of this match. Regardless of any second innings batting, he will end his 68 Test career with an average just over 40.

Collingwood retires from Test cricket

Paul Collingwood has announced his retirement from Test cricket today, after 68 matches spanning more than seven years.

Despite poor recent form, he goes out on a team high, with England retaining the Ashes down under. It is the third time he has been part of an Ashes winning series.

“Representing England at Test level has always been a dream of mine,” Collingwood said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have enjoyed some amazing highs throughout my Test career.

“I’m proud of the fact that I’ve always given my all for the England Test team but I feel that this is the right time to leave Test cricket having reached some very special achievements, none more satisfying that retaining the Ashes in Australia.

“I also feel now is the time to ensure some of the younger players are given an opportunity at Test level as we have a wealth of talent pushing for places in the England Test team.”

Collingwood will continue to captain the England Twenty20 team, and remains part of the ODI squad.

“Clearly I still feel I have a huge amount to offer England in terms of limited overs cricket,” Collingwood said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue leading the Twenty20 squad and playing a significant role in England’s ODI team.”

Collingwood scored ten Test centuries, including a double century at Adelaide in the last Ashes tour. He took 16 Test wickets, his last, bowling Mike Hussey with his final ball in the first innings of his last Test.

But it was perhaps his superb performance in the field that Collingwood was most famous for. He has taken some breathtaking catches in his career, and proved a safe pair of hands in his usual position at slips or backward point.

Hugh Morris, Managing Director of England Cricket, said: “Paul Collingwood has made an outstanding contribution to the England Test team.

“His performances have been admired and recognised by his teammates and England supporters over many years and his tireless commitment in the Test match arena will be something he will always be remembered for.”

England on the run!

By definition, there should be a warrant out for the arrest of the England team:

“A serial killer is typically defined as a person who murders three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a “cooling off” period between each murder.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer

At regular intervals over the last six weeks, England have murdered the bowling of the Australia team, taking time to ‘cool off” in between Test’s. Today was no exception. Adding 321 runs for the loss of just three wickets, Cook, Bell and Prior filled their boots, and have all but secured the first Ashes series win down under for England in 24 years.

Ian Bell must fell like he has waited almost as long to reach triple figures against Australia. After 31 innings, he finally achieved the accolade in his 17^th Ashes Test match.

“I think it will be the first of many,” said Cook of Bell’s century. “Another tick on an already outstanding career. He’s grown over the last 12 months to a fantastic batter. His stats are phenomenal over the last year, year and a half. It’s always nice getting those little monkeys off your back.”

His knock was not without controversy, and, as has been the case many times in this series, the drama came from a review.

Bell, on 67, was the first player to call on the UDRS in this match after he was judged by umpire Dar to have a faint inside edge on a ball from Watson that was caught behind.  The replay showed no obvious mark on hotspot, and the decision was overturned.

However, snicko, which is not used as part of the official review due to the time it takes to put together and the potential for human intervention, showed a nick, but by then it was too late. Bell went on to make 115 before edging Johnson to Clarke in the slips.

The controversy over the decision, and the fact that Bell didn’t walk, was widespread off the pitch, but Australian captain Michael Clarke was more accepting of events.

“I don’t think Ian Bell is a cheat at all,” Clarke said. “We thought there was an inside edge, but technology says that Ian didn’t hit the ball. I certainly don’t think he is a cheat.

“Sometimes you cant (tell if you have nicked it). I find it very hard to believe that someone would refer a decision if they thought they’d hit it.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Alistair Cook.

“(Technology) is pretty good. If Belly had honestly thought he’d hit it then I don’t think he would have referred it because he’d look pretty stupid if he had hit it. I don’t think any players are trying to bluff technology.”

“It’s about accepting the decision and getting on with it,” Clarke said. “It’s the same for both teams. I’m all for technology. I think it has helped the game. I would like it to be 100% right, but there are not many things in the world that are. There’s going to be a few inconsistent areas, and sometimes it’s frustrating. But both teams are dealing with the same issues. I’d like the ICC to make the decision that technology is in or out, and then every team is dealing with the same issue.”

Cook agreed that the use of technology and the decisions that result from it are much more readily accepted by the players than the fans and the media.

“I think we are (more accepting of technology),” Cook said. “We are getting more decisions right. If you are in the dressing having been given out when it should be not out then it can affect careers.”

It is no surprise that Cook is such an advocate of the system, having been acquitted on more than one occasion in this series.

“The right decision was made on all of them; in Adelaide when I was hit on the arm and given out, and the lbw which I clearly hit in Melbourne, the right decision was made. It does feel like the referrals are looking after me, but I’m sure there will be a time when I am given not out and a referral goes against me, but that’s when you’ve got to take your medicine. You can’t then complain about it.”

Cook was let off twice in his innings of 189, both through an umpire review. After Beer’s front foot no ball yesterday, the pair came head to head again today, Beer once again seeing his first Test wicket taken away by the umpires.

On 99, Cook clipped a ball from beer to Philip Hughes at short leg, who went up in celebration with his team mates. But Cook stood his ground, unsure if the ball had carried. Replays showed it hitting the ground just short of Hughes. There were calls of Hughes cheating in his celebrations, but once again, all the speculation was off the pitch.

“To be fair to Philip Hughes, he said straight away he wasn’t sure.” Cook said. “Obviously I was going to hang around, on 99 you have to be dragged off. “

“I can guarantee Philip Hughes is not a cheat,” Clarke said. “He’s a wonderful young guy. I think the end result was spot on. Hughesy wasn’t sure, we made that quite clear to the umpires. Its hard, that’s why we have the technology there to make the decision.”

That decision allowed Cook to continue to re-write all the record books, passing landmarks along the way. He has become the second most productive England batsman in a Test series, second only to Hammond’s 905 in 1928-29. He passed 1,000 first class runs on this tour, and 700 runs in the series, only the fourth English batsman in an Ashes series to do so. He also took the crown of longest time spent batting by any English batsman in a Test series, passing 2,026 minutes.

“I could only have dreamt about it six/seven weeks ago,” Cook said of his exploits. “Especially after the warm up game where I didn’t score any runs. I can’t believe what I have achieved, and what the team have achieved. It’s been a good couple of months but we’ve got two days of hard work left.

“We’ve obviously had a really good day but part of our team ethos is not looking too far ahead. We’ve got to out and win that first hour tomorrow.”

There weren’t many who kept faith in the selection of Cook after an extended poor run of form last year, followed by scores of 5 and 9 in the first warm up game.

“Obviously I had a tough summer,” he said. “You always want to start a tour well. Once you score runs people tend to leave you alone. Once I got that hundred in the second (warm up) game I thought ‘I can score runs in Australia’. It’s just that little bit of confidence that you need. My game plan does work if I execute it well, and it’s served me well so far on this tour.

“You work hard physically and on the mental side of the game but when you are in this form it all happens quite easily. You bat for an hour and you don’t realise you’ve batted for an hour. But last summer when I was desperately trying to bat for ten minutes it felt like a lifetime. You are in that rhythm, that tempo and you just take one ball at a time because you are not worried about your technique or anything else. That makes it a lot easier.

“Form comes and goes. I couldn’t hit the middle of the bat 6 months ago. I think that is the secret of sport, why form comes and goes. If you keep working hard and enjoying it when you do well because there were some pretty dark times last summer, and there may be in my career in the future.”

Clarke gave credit to Cook for his performance.

“He’s had a wonderful series with the bat,” Clarke said. “I think what he showed out there again today was discipline, he was willing to leave the ball. He let a lot of balls go and played to his strengths. That’s one thing all of our batters can take from the way he played. Also Ian Bell, who has played well throughout this series. They stuck to their guns and played to their strengths. In the end they made us bowl to them.”

Despite England closing with a lead of 208, Clarke remained positive about Australia’s chances of saving this Test.

“If we can come out here tomorrow and get a couple of wickets, then bat our backsides off and get a big total, I’m confident we can still win the game,” Clarke said.

To coin Darryl Kerrigan’s infamous phrase from the Australian film ‘The Castle’: ‘He’s dreaming’.

England bully Australia

England are not just beating Australia, they are bullying them.

Cook and Bell are still at the crease, filling their boots from the Australian buffet bowling.

Cook continued to pass landmarks; passing 700 runs in the series and 1,000 first class runs on the tour. He has also become the second most productive England batsman in a Test series, second only to Hammond’s 905 in 1928-29.

He has got his second ‘daddy hundred’ of the series, heading into tea on 188*.

Bell completed his fourth half century of the series, on 62* at tea.

With  lead of 98, England are racing away with this game.

Cook continues to storm the record books

This has been Alistair Cook’s series, and this morning was no different. He continues to re-write all the record books, passing 700 runs in the series, only the fourth English batsman in an Ashes series to do so. He also took the crown of longest time spent batting by any English batsman in a Test series, passing 2,026. He needs only 37 more runs to pass 1,000 on this tour, including practice matches.

There have been some close calls. The referral system has served him well. But that is what it is there for. It came into play again in the morning session, to keep Cook at the crease on 99, in a rematch with Beer.

Beer must feel like his glass is half empty at the moment. Twice now in this innings he has thought that he had his first Test wicket, although the finger has never gone up. Having been denied the wicket of Cook yesterday due to a no ball, he thought he had him once again, caught at short leg by Philip Hughes. But Cook stood his ground, the umpires once again the one’s to refer the decision. Replays showed the ball hitting the ground just short of Hughes.

Earlier, night watchman Anderson survived five overs, before being bowled by a full and straight ball from Siddle. Collingwood, who is likely playing for his Test place, was the man to finally give Beer his first Test wicket, skewing a top edge to mid on. It was a bizarre shot for someone who was trying to save his Test career. Bell looked well set on 20 at lunch. Australia have the new ball, and will be aiming to restrict an England lead, which is just three runs away.

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