Cricket Update: Ashes 2010- Cook piles on the runs as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 wilt at Adelaide
England grinded Australia with another sublime batting performance on day two of the second Ashes test being played at the Adelaide Oval, once again it was Alastair Cook who carried on from where he had left at the Gabba to score his second successive hundred.
Cook had two seasoned campaigners for company on day two as England recovered superbly from the loss of Captain Andrew Strauss for 1.
Strauss was bowled by Doug Bollinger giving the Aussies exactly the kind of start that they had aimed for after being blown away by the English bowlers for a mere 245 on the opening day of the test.
First Jonathan Trott added 173 to follow up on the 349 run unbeaten stand that the two combined for in the second innings at Gabba.
Trott failed to make his third hundred in as many tests against the old enemy scooping the ball towards the mid-wicket region where Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 held a fine tumbling catch.
Cook joined hands with Kevin Pietersen who started scratchily before finding his grove after the tea interval. The right hander who scored a hundred in his only other appearance in a test match at the Adelaide Oval remained undefeated on 85 as stumps were
drawn.
Cook who has now scored more than 500 runs in the series for one dismissal only was batting on 136 at the other end.
This was his third test hundred in the last five innings, and highlighted the transformation he has had after going though a woeful run of form in the English summer.
He was severely criticised for his lack of form through out the twin series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 at the Oval.
That innings sealed his Ashes berth and since then he has looked a different batsman altogether as he toys with the Aussie bowlers, who are absolutely clueless.
"That's part and parcel of playing professional sport, but how I dealt with it, by responding at The Oval has given me a lot of confidence," he added.
"That when I really needed it most, I could deliver it, and coming to Australia when the side needed it most, I've managed to deliver so far.” He further stated that the art of batting is all about concentrating for long periods of time and not making
a mistake. The batsman has to constantly keep reminding himself of that on almost every ball.
He added that he had concentrated on his game as hard as he possibly could during the summer, but the rewards were not there initially. He revealed that he was not doing anything differently technically either, yet was absolutely elated with how things have
taken a turn for the good for him.
He also gave credit to England’s batting coach http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Graham-c60529 Gooch for the turn around, claiming that the former captain was instrumental in turning things around for him.
"I don't think I'm doing things differently, but sometimes you get your rewards when you put in the hard yards,"
he added. "You do have dark thoughts sometimes, but having Goochie on side, he knows what happens. The opening bowler is paid to get you out and some days he does get you out, and you have to stay very level to appreciate that. There are some excellent
bowlers around the world and they are quite right to get you out. But when you get the conditions in your favour, it's important to cash in."
Cook’s imperious run has meant that the English team is on top of the Aussies and would be extremely tough to beat for Ricky Ponting’s men in the remainder of this test as well as the next three set to be played at Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
For the time being it looks like that the yearn for the urn is all English!
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