England draw first Ashes Test
Nov 29 2010 By Press Association Sport staff
England's batsmen helped ensure a draw in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane today.
Alastair Cook struck an unbeaten 235 and Jonathan Trott added 135 not out to help England reach 517 for one in their second innings, setting the hosts a nominal target of 297.
Australia reached 107 for one when the captains shook hands on a high-scoring draw.
Cook's score was a career-best innings, while Trott was exactly 100 runs behind him when Andrew Strauss decided it was time for a bowl again.
Cook, who yesterday contributed to England's ground-record opening stand with his captain, ploughed mercilessly on to the highest individual score at this venue as he and Trott made a mockery of the perilous starting position of the tourists' second innings.
By tea, Australia had lost Simon Katich, fencing a catch to Strauss at slip off Stuart Broad, but there were no further losses on the way to the early close as home captain Ricky Ponting reached an unbeaten 51 at a run a ball.
This is only the second time in England's history the top three batsmen have reached three figures in the same innings, the previous instance courtesy of Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond in 1924.
It is a unique Ashes achievement for a team who had set out late on the third day needing 221 runs just to make their hosts bat again and, according to many experts, with scant chance of escaping Brisbane at 0-0.
Cook and Trott began a sunny morning with a partnership of 121 already under their belts - and then piled on another 208 in just 51 overs.
