Skipper Andrew Strauss lauded Alastair Cook's match-turning double century in Monday's drawn first Ashes Test as one of English cricket's most valuable innings ever.
Skipper Andrew Strauss lauded Alastair Cook's match-turning double century in Monday's drawn first Ashes Test as one of English cricket's most valuable innings ever.
England faced looming defeat at the Gabba after going behind by 221 runs in the first innings, only to reply with a massive 517 for one in their second innings, with Cook hitting an unbeaten 235, to see off the threat.
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Cook became only the fourth Englishman to score a Test double-century in Australia and shared in England's highest partnership Down Under of 329 runs with Jonathan Trott, who was 135 not out when Strauss declared 40 minutes before tea.
Cook, sitting alongside Strauss at the post-match press conference, raised his eyes when Strauss launched into an appreciation of his contribution to saving the opening Test for the Ashes holders.
"I'd be hard pressed to think of a better innings in Australia," Strauss said.
"It must be a long time ago, the last guy who batted as well as Cooky did.
"The concentration to see it through for such a long period of time, that's one of the really special innings for an England player."
The team vice-captain came into the series with an average of just 26.21 in 10 previous Tests against Australia, while averaging 46 against other teams.
But he has killed off his detractors with an impressive return in Brisbane of 67 and 235 not out.
"It's cricket, isn't it," the Essex left-hander said.
"It's amazing how quickly it turns around. It's one of those things where you keep working at the right things and keep believing you're a good player that you get your results.
"We start again very quickly on Friday so we've got a quick turnaround. Hopefully, I can start again in Adelaide (the second Test)."
Cook, at the tender age of 25, joined Wally Hammond (3), Reg Foster and Paul Collingwood as England's double centurions in Australia with his 625-minute epic.
He said he was edgy coming into the Ashes series.
"The night before I was probably the most nervous I've ever been," he said.
"The drive into the ground, everything about it, the hype, the national anthems, it was a very nerve-wracking time and it gave me a lot of confidence to get through that first two hours.
"It's been a fantastic couple of days, obviously the pitch was amazing to bat on and got better and better."
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