Alastair Cook scored a career best of 235 not out while Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott scored centuries to help England pull off an incredible draw despite having their backs to the wall. England who were bowled out for 260 in their first innings conceded a 221-run lead as Australia banking on Hussey, Haddin centuries put up 481. England who had to start their second innings by the end of Day 3 batted out as many as 152 overs losing just the wicket of Andrew Strauss that too after the England Captain had put up 188 runs for the first wicket having batted out long enough for 66.2 overs.
Strauss scored 110 in 224 balls with 15 fours before getting stumped off Marcus North. Cook then saw through the rest of the fourth day with Trott who brought up his century on the final day as the match was certain to head towards a stalemate. Both batsmen stayed unbeaten as Strauss declared the innings at 517 for 1 leaving Australia with an unrealistic target of 297 in just a little over a session. Cook's 235* came in 428 balls with 26 fours while he stayed for 10 and a half hours. Trott on the other hand stayed unbeaten on 135 from 266 balls with 19 fours.
Australia finished the match at 107 for 1 in 26 overs with Ponting getting 51 not out and Watson with 41 not out. The Man of the Match award went to Alastair Cook ahead of Peter Siddle who had taken a hat-trick on the first day.
- B.V.Swagath
