Marathon man Alastair Cook was nearing his second double-century of the series as England turned the screws on Australia in the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The left-handed opener tormented Australia's bowlers with another dominant innings to become the second-highest English scorer in a series in Australia. At tea on the third day, England had extended their lead to 98 runs at 378 for five with Cook powering on to 188 and Ian Bell on 62. The pair have added 152 runs for the sixth wicket as the tourists bid for their first series win in Australia in 24 years. Cook has been the outstanding batsman of the series and lifted his aggregate total to 765 at tea to overtake Herbert Sutcliffe's 734 series aggregate from the 1924-25 tour. Only Wally Hammond (905 in 1928-29) has amassed more runs for England in a series in Australia. It was Cook's third century of the series after an unbeaten 235 in the first Brisbane Test and 148 in Adelaide. Cook has spent over 35 hours at the crease so far in this series. The Essex left-hander survived a scare on 99 when close-in fielder Phillip Hughes claimed a catch off spinner Michael Beer, only for a referral to show that the ball had bounced just before the fielder's hands. It was Cook's second close shave of his innings -- both off debutant Beer. Beer celebrated what he thought was his first Test wicket late on Tuesday when Cook, then on 46, skied to Ben Hilfenhaus at deep mid-on only for umpire Billy Bowden to ask for the third umpire to check on a suspected no-ball. Replays showed the spinner had overstepped and Cook batted on. Cook's magnificent series was also a dramatic turnaround in personal fortunes after coming into this series averaging just 26.21 in Ashes contests against Australia. Cook last toured Australia as a 21-year-old, scoring 276 runs at 27.60 as Australia swept the 2006-07 series 5-0. Beer went on finally to claim his maiden Test wicket when he had the out-of-form Paul Collingwood caught in the deep for 13. Collingwood, whose Test future is up the air after dismal batting returns in the series, tried to smash Beer down the ground only to skew high to a back-pedalling Hilfenhaus at mid-on. The dismissal took his series tally to 83 from six innings and increased the pressure on him to hold his Test place. Nightwatchman James Anderson was out 20 minutes into the third day when he was bowled by Peter Siddle for seven. u00a0

Marathon man Alastair Cook was nearing his second double-century of the series as England turned the screws on Australia in the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Cook torments Australia with another huge score

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Cook torments Australia with another huge score

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