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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Cook ton keeps Australia waiting | Cook ton keeps Australia waiting |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Alastair Cook hit a defiant first Ashes century but Australia still looked set to regain the Ashes after wickets fell late on day four in Perth. | Alastair Cook hit a defiant first Ashes century but Australia still looked set to regain the Ashes after wickets fell late on day four in Perth. |
| Cook batted heroically but finally went for 116 and then nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard was out for a duck in the same Glenn McGrath over at the Waca. | |
| England closed the day on 265-5, still needing 292 for a world record victory. | England closed the day on 265-5, still needing 292 for a world record victory. |
| Earlier Ian Bell and Cook had put on 170 runs for the second wicket before Bell fell for 87 just before tea. | Earlier Ian Bell and Cook had put on 170 runs for the second wicket before Bell fell for 87 just before tea. |
| Paul Collingwood departed 15 runs later, after the interval, but in truth he had never looked comfortable at the crease. | Paul Collingwood departed 15 runs later, after the interval, but in truth he had never looked comfortable at the crease. |
| He was out for five off 36-balls feathering a Stuart Clark off-cutter to Adam Gilchrist. | He was out for five off 36-balls feathering a Stuart Clark off-cutter to Adam Gilchrist. |
| Cook and Kevin Pietersen looked as though they were going to see out the rest of the final session and set up an amazing final day as England dared to believe they could pull off the impossible and win the match. | Cook and Kevin Pietersen looked as though they were going to see out the rest of the final session and set up an amazing final day as England dared to believe they could pull off the impossible and win the match. |
| But veteran McGrath had other ideas with just three overs left. | But veteran McGrath had other ideas with just three overs left. |
| He tempted a tired Cook to play across and he edged it to Gilchrist to depart after occupying the crease for more than six hours. | He tempted a tired Cook to play across and he edged it to Gilchrist to depart after occupying the crease for more than six hours. |
| Bell fell for 87, 30 minutes before tea | Bell fell for 87, 30 minutes before tea |
| England sent in nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard but he lasted just two balls as McGrath bowled him for a duck. | England sent in nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard but he lasted just two balls as McGrath bowled him for a duck. |
| Captain Andrew Flintoff was forced to the crease and endured a nervy two overs, as he ended two not out with Pietersen unbeaten on 37. | Captain Andrew Flintoff was forced to the crease and endured a nervy two overs, as he ended two not out with Pietersen unbeaten on 37. |
| England had battled so hard for most of the day, it was disappointing the loss of the late wickets probably meant they would not be able to stave off defeat. | England had battled so hard for most of the day, it was disappointing the loss of the late wickets probably meant they would not be able to stave off defeat. |
| For Cook, in hitting his fourth Test century in 12 matches, he became the youngest England player to score four tons before his 22nd birthday - which is on Christmas Day. | For Cook, in hitting his fourth Test century in 12 matches, he became the youngest England player to score four tons before his 22nd birthday - which is on Christmas Day. |
| But that certainly was not on his mind when he and Bell had resumed England's innings on 19-1. | But that certainly was not on his mind when he and Bell had resumed England's innings on 19-1. |
| They were well aware it was time at the crease rather than chasing runs that was needed by England. | They were well aware it was time at the crease rather than chasing runs that was needed by England. |
| And they duly obliged and survived for nearly two sessions with a mixture of ball-blocking and playing shots off the poorer deliveries. | And they duly obliged and survived for nearly two sessions with a mixture of ball-blocking and playing shots off the poorer deliveries. |
| Stuart Clark, who has been Australia's best bowler in the series, forced Bell into his first false shot which was edged just short of the slip cordon. | Stuart Clark, who has been Australia's best bowler in the series, forced Bell into his first false shot which was edged just short of the slip cordon. |
| Bell looked more assured than Cook facing Warne but they easily surpassed England's previous highest second-wicket partnership of the series, a paltry 38. | Bell looked more assured than Cook facing Warne but they easily surpassed England's previous highest second-wicket partnership of the series, a paltry 38. |
| And a rare occurrence of a wicketless first session for Australia gave England reason to cheer. | And a rare occurrence of a wicketless first session for Australia gave England reason to cheer. |
| And they continued in the same vein after lunch, both growing in confidence. | And they continued in the same vein after lunch, both growing in confidence. |
| Australia grew increasingly annoyed and by mid-afternoon had resorted to bully-boy appealing tactics, Shane Warne especially, who bowled all session from the north end, but Koertzen stood his ground, justifiably so according to television replays. | Australia grew increasingly annoyed and by mid-afternoon had resorted to bully-boy appealing tactics, Shane Warne especially, who bowled all session from the north end, but Koertzen stood his ground, justifiably so according to television replays. |
| Bell had a let-off on 73 when he edged Brett Lee behind but Adam Gilchrist uncharacteristically failed to keep hold. | Bell had a let-off on 73 when he edged Brett Lee behind but Adam Gilchrist uncharacteristically failed to keep hold. |
| However Bell's gallant innings was soon over when Warne finally got his man, his 696th Test victim, Justin Langer taking a regulation catch at short extra cover. | However Bell's gallant innings was soon over when Warne finally got his man, his 696th Test victim, Justin Langer taking a regulation catch at short extra cover. |
| Bell had occupied the crease for 234 minutes, hitting eight fours and two sixes. | Bell had occupied the crease for 234 minutes, hitting eight fours and two sixes. |
| The wicket visibly lifted Australia but set England hearts fluttering just as they were starting to think the unthinkable could happen. | The wicket visibly lifted Australia but set England hearts fluttering just as they were starting to think the unthinkable could happen. |
| The belief in successfully chasing down the biggest total started to wane when Collingwood went in the final session. | The belief in successfully chasing down the biggest total started to wane when Collingwood went in the final session. |
| And brilliant bowling by Australia in the final 15 minutes swung it back in the hosts' favour as they attempted to win the Ashes back at the earliest opportunity. | And brilliant bowling by Australia in the final 15 minutes swung it back in the hosts' favour as they attempted to win the Ashes back at the earliest opportunity. |