Strauss and Cook lay century platform

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook gave England the ideal platform in their bid to salvage the opening Test as they added an unbroken 135 on the fourth morning at Brisbane. Strauss led the way with a captain's innings full off attractive strokes but also sturdy concentration, while Cook continued his productive match with another determined half-century to leave Australia's attack toiling much as England's did for two sessions yesterday.

And the luck changed direction as Strauss was handed a crucial life on 69 when Mitchell Johnson, in the midst of a torrid match, dropped a chance at mid-off when Strauss tried to loft Xavier Doherty down the ground. The opening pair became England's most prolific in Test cricket, although the record was diluted somewhat as they had played more than twice as many innings as the Jack Hobbs-Herbert Sutcliffe pairing they overtook. But that was a minor point in the bigger picture of England trying to claw their way back into the match, which they did with an impressively aggressive approach.

Unlike yesterday morning when there appeared a touch more zip in the wicket - although that may have been down to James Anderson's excellence - there was little encouragement for the Australian quicks with a ball that was already 15 overs old and getting softer. Cook had an early moment of luck when he sliced a cut between third slip and gully, but England will feel they are owed a few moments their way.

Cook's second boundary of the day was a far more convincing square cut and it was a similar shot that got Strauss ticking when he latched onto width from Shane Watson. Strauss's first-innings duck wasn't an indication of his rich form and a sure sign of his confidence was his cover driving as he pierced the field off Ben Hilfenhaus.

The England captain also took a liking to Watson who seemed intent on feeding Strauss's strength outside off although one of his boundaries was gifted by a misfield at point from Doherty. Johnson, supposedly the team's strike bowler, had to wait until being the fourth quick option employed by Ricky Ponting and continued to spray the ball either side of the pitch as he attempted to bomb Strauss.

Strauss, meanwhile, continued to dominate as he used his feet against Doherty to drive him through cover and reached fifty from 110 balls. Cook, having initially outscored Strauss, had to work harder for his runs but notched his second half-century of the match from 148 balls. Ponting tried all his options, including Marcus North shortly before lunch, but the surface remains true despite the appearance of a large crack down the line of the left-hander's off stump.

England's second-innings display confirms how below-par 260 was on the opening day - and they are still a long way from saving the game - but Australia will have to work very hard. Once again, you can't take your eyes off this Test.

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo