Alastair Cook Puts England In Command

Alastair Cook scores another ton

Alastair Cook hit a successive century as England set a lead of 72 against Australia in the second Ashes Test..  Cook hit an unbeaten 136 with the tourists reaching 317-2 in their first innings. The Essex left-hander, who also hit 235 not out in the first test at the Gabba took his aggregate score to 371.

Following Andrew Strauss' dismissal in the first over bowled by Doug Bollinger for no runs, the tourists made a bad start to the day. But Alastair Cook & Jonathan Trott (78) put England in command and once Trott was dismissed Kevin Pietersen then hit 85 not out, helping England rack up the runs in Adelaide.

Alastair Cook said, "It's important to cash in when things do go your way,"

"(I learned after the first Test) what had gone had gone.

"It's about not getting complacent; it's a mental switch that you have to start at nought again.

"That was one of the challenges I had this week - trying to back up what I did last week."

The Essex batsman speaking on the batting conditions, he added: "They bowled really well up front so to stick in through that and go on and bat all day was especially rewarding.

"It was almost ideal batting conditions.

"A lot of credit must go to the way our guys bowled to put us in that position.

"But there is still a lot of hard work to do."

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