Finn sails into top 20

Steven Finn’s impressive Ashes debut has vaulted the seamer to 19th in the ICC Test bowling rankings - his highest career position.
The Middlesex bowler’s elevation, on the back of 6-125 in Australia’s first innings at the Gabba, means England are now the only Test nation with four players inside the top 20.
Finn joins the rest of the tourists' attack that played in Brisbane after climbing 10 places - Stuart Broad is 12th, James Anderson fifth and Graeme Swann remains second behind South Africa's Dale Steyn.
Jonathan Trott’s unbeaten 135 in the second innings sees the Warwickshire star climb eight places to eighth in the batting rankings, while Broad remains fourth in the all-rounder category.

Flower thrilled with Brisbane recovery

Team director Andy Flower was delighted he was able to watch England’s batting heroics on the last two days of the drawn Ashes opener at the Gabba.
Flower missed the second and third days of the match in Brisbane after successfully undergoing surgery to remove a melanoma on his face.
However, the 42-year-old was able to return to the Gabba to see Alastair Cook’s maiden first-class double century plus hundreds from fellow opener Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott.
Those tons enabled the tourists to declare on a mammoth 517 for one yesterday, having begun their second innings in a perilous position, and force Australia to play for the draw.

“Watching Cook and Trott build that partnership was particularly special,” Flower said of the second-wicket pair, who combined for a Gabba Test record 329-run alliance.

“The way we fought back in the game was outstanding. With a 220 deficit, that’s a very dangerous situation.
“I thought the team, and especially those batsmen, showed particularly strong character in fighting their way out of it.
“It’s very good to come away from that situation with a draw, and to have the opportunity of applying a little bit of pressure at the end.”
Flower, who arrived in Adelaide today with the rest of the England squad ahead of this week’s second Test there, had the potentially cancerous mole taken off his upper right cheek under local anaesthetic.
The former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman was relieved last Friday’s surgery has removed all the dangerous tissue and he therefore has no more health issues to worry about.
“I just got a little bit of a surprise with the results of that little biopsy,” he said, having taken England security expert Reg Dickason’s advice to have the suspect mole examined - despite previous medical assurances it was not malevolent.
“Then they had to whip some of that stuff away. I got some good results yesterday, so there are no issues in the immediate future.”

Cook humbled to better Bradman

Alastair Cook confessed to having mixed emotions after breaking Don Bradman’s Brisbane record as his maiden first-class double century emphatically secured a draw in the opening Ashes Test match.
Cook batted for 10 and a half hours en route to 235 not out as the tourists amassed a second innings 517 for one declared today - their highest total at the Gabba - having conceded a 221-run first innings deficit.
Set a notional 297 to win, Australia reached 107 for one from 26 overs when the sides shook hands.
Shortly before England’s declaration, Cook passed Bradman's 226 for Australia versus South Africa in 1931.
Having faced 428 balls, 26 of which he struck for four, he admitted: "I feel slightly humble at that, slightly ruining all the records there for the wrong reasons but it's a nice one to have.”

The left-handed opener knew he had done himself and his country proud, but initially appeared largely oblivious of the history made.
That included overtaking a recent landmark as Cook and Jonathan Trott’s second-wicket partnership of 329 surpassed Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin’s 307-run alliance on day three of this game.
"We didn't know about all the records, until Mark Nicholas started saying we’d broken a few, so Trotty and I might have to start digging to see what we have achieved," he added.
"It's been a fantastic couple of days. The pitch was amazing to bat on and got better and better; the conditions were in our favour but you still have to go and get them.”
The 25-year-old, who resumed on 132 this morning, registered his maiden first-class double ton after receiving plenty of encouragement overnight.
"It's my first in first-class cricket,” he said. “I had a lot of texts last night saying make it 'daddy' hundred. That's pretty much a 'daddy' hundred."
Cook got his eye in with a first-innings half-century on day one.
"Getting through the first couple of hours gave me a lot of confidence, but I was very disappointed after getting out for 67.
"It was very frustrating, and I was ultra-determined to make it count if I got in again. Luckily I did."
Cook had only minor moments of fortune, including on 209 when Ricky Ponting claimed a low catch at midwicket only for the officials to call on a ruling from the third umpire.

"You're entitled to stand your ground and wait for the decision," he underlined.
"I wasn't sure it carried - and I don't think Ricky was totally sure either. I was going to wait."
Trott, whose unbeaten 135 was his second ton in as many Tests versus Australia, hailed a job well done.
"It's nice to get in and play a big part with Alastair and to help save the game. I'm just happy to contribute really,” said the number three batsman, who began the morning on 54.
"It's a very difficult game, as we all know. I'm very pleased with how it's gone."
Trott paid tribute to Cook and captain Andrew Strauss for playing calm and confident knocks to get the ball rolling in the second-innings reply.
"The way Andrew and Alastair batted at the beginning set the tempo for the innings,” he observed.
“It's always nice to come in when you're 180 for one (sic), the job was done by them and we just continued to do the work really.
"We wanted to get it on a bit and set them something and have a little bowl at them and see what we could do.
“That was the sort of impetus that we needed, and it was nice to go through the gears in a Test match."

Strauss buoyant after Brisbane draw

Captain Andrew Strauss says England will head for Adelaide tomorrow confident they can win the Ashes after Alastair Cook led their second-innings escape from the Gabba.
Cook was the cornerstone in record stands of 188 with his skipper and fellow opener Strauss and then an all-comers’ best against Australia Down Under of 329 with Jonathan Trott for the second wicket.
He finished unbeaten on 235 - his first double-hundred in first-class cricket - alongside Trott, who made 135 not out, as England declared on an astonishing 517 for one.
After Strauss’ 110, this was the first instance since 1924 of England’s top three batsmen each making centuries.
The circumstances of the feat made it all the more notable, after England had begun their second innings needing 221 simply to make their hosts bat again in the first Ashes Test.
By the time Strauss called time on his deputy Cook - after 10 and a half hours, 428 balls faced and 26 fours struck - England had the luxury of inviting their hosts to bat again
With no realistic prospect of chasing a notional 297 to win in 41 overs, it was at least a successful exercise in damage limitation for Australia that captain Ricky Ponting could bag an unbeaten 51 out of 107 for one.
Yet it was Strauss who could reflect with great satisfaction on the eventual outcome - and continued optimism for what still lies ahead this winter.
“Everyone talks about how important the first Test is against Australia in Brisbane, so to get through that unscathed from the position we were in is a great effort,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of belief we can go on and win the series from here.”
He knows that plenty more will be needed to retain the urn.
“We’ll have a spring in our step going to Adelaide - but we have to transfer that to the pitch.
“It’s all very well strutting about in the hotel lobby feeling good about yourself. You need to make sure that turns into runs and wickets.”
There was nonetheless much to cheer the vocal English support, especially on the final two days, in Brisbane.
“We did some very good things with the ball - some of our bowlers weren’t rewarded for quite how well they bowled,” Strauss added.
“We were in a pretty dire position after day three, so it speaks volumes for the characters of 'Cooky' and 'Trotty'.”

“The first day of an Ashes series is hard work mentally, and we did well to come back from losing a wicket in the first over.
“Ian Bell played exceptionally well; 'Cooky' played well. But (Peter) Siddle knocked the stuffing out of us with his hat-trick.”
Cook’s best was therefore required, and he delivered in spades.
“I’m not great on cricketing history, but you’d be hard pressed to think of a better innings in Australia,” said his captain.
“It must be a long time ago that a player batted as well as Cooky did. The concentration to see it through for such a long time - it’s one of the really special innings from an England player.”
Strauss was impressed by his team's character after a poor start for the team and him personally when he was out for a third-ball duck on day one.
"Getting out in the first over in the first Test is a pretty horrendous way to start,” he said.
“We felt pretty low then and after day three we felt downbeat as well, we'd done good things and we were behind in the game.
"But we dug pretty deep and we're very happy to be nil-all. Nothing changes and both sides will come out hard in the next Test in Adelaide."
Asked about England's approach to the second innings, Strauss said: "If you just go into your shell and try and survive you play into the opposition's hands.
“If you look for scoring opportunities it creates momentum for you and once we got that momentum it became easier and easier."
.

Deaf squad for Australia trip revealed

The ECB today named the England Deaf squad for the forthcoming tour of Australia in January 2011.
The squad will play one Test match during the Ashes series for deaf cricketers, followed by two one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals as part of a tri-series against Australia and South Africa in Geelong.
England will be looking to win back the trophy currently held by Australia after their last encounter in 2008 ended in a draw.
The Ashes series for deaf cricketers dates back to the early 1990s, which signalled the start of the May/Craven Trophy for the winners and was the fore-runner to the first Deaf World Cup in 1996.
George Greenway, James Schofield and Michael Weathersby are all new to the squad and will be making their first trip Down Under, hoping to show captain Umesh Valjee what they are capable of.
ECB national disability cricket manager Ian Martin said: “Everyone involved in deaf cricket in England is looking forward to the forthcoming series and the challenge that playing against Australia in Australia brings.
“The last Ashes series for deaf cricketers was very close and we are looking forward to a well fought contest. We are also looking forward to the tri-series involving South Africa, whom we have not faced for a few years.
“We have some new faces in the squad and a new, but experienced coaching team with the opportunity to bring two titles home. The squad are well prepared and ready for the challenges that lie ahead.”

England Deaf squad to tour Australia

Umesh Valjee (captain, Middlesex)
Paul Allen (Derbyshire)
Saul Allison (Surrey)
Liam Backhurst (Durham)
Matt Clinton (Yorkshire)
James Dixon (Lancashire)
Matthew Everett (Essex)
Stephen George (Devon)
George Greenway (Devon)
Chris Hughes (Warwickshire)
Stefan Pichowski (Kent)
James Schofield (Gwent)
Darrell Sykes (Yorkshire)
Michael Weathersby (Glamorgan)
Andrew Wood (Yorkshire)

Schedule

(all matches to take place at Geelong Grammar School)
January 17-19: Australia v England, Ashes Test
January 21: Australia v South Africa, ODI
January 22: South Africa v England, ODI
January 23: Australia v England, ODI
January 24: South Africa v England, Australia v England, both T20
January 26: Australia v South Africa, England v Australia, both T20
January 27: ODI final

England excel in Gabba draw

England will take valuable momentum into the second Ashes Test in Adelaide after dominating the final day of a drawn series-opener in Brisbane.

Alastair Cook recorded a magnificent unbeaten double century and Jonathan Trott scored his second hundred in as many Tests against Australia as the tourists declared their second innings on a mammoth 517 for one - their highest total at the Gabba - to set the hosts a notional 297 for victory.

Cook’s 235 represented the largest individual score at the ground, beating the previous record of Don Bradman, while Trott had taken his score to 135 by the time skipper Andrew Strauss called a halt to proceedings 40 minutes before tea.

The second-wicket partnership yielded an astonishing 329 runs, a record stand for England in Australia, and ensured the home side had to face a testing examination with the ball before the close.

Stuart Broad raised brief hopes of an unlikely England victory when he had Simon Katich caught by Strauss at first slip in the sixth over of Australia’s innings, but Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting steadied the ship thereafter and took the score on to 107 for one before the captains shook hands on a draw.

Watson finished unbeaten on 41, having been dropped by Paul Collingwood off Graeme Swann when he had 17 to his name, and Ponting looked in excellent touch as he raced to 51 not out on an increasingly benign wicket.

But the late rally will have done little to temper England’s delight after they hauled themselves back into the match in impressive fashion on days four and five.

Australia were unfortunate to see a number of edges land safely this morning, but as the day progressed they were forced to endure an utterly torrid time in the field

Resuming on 309 for one with Cook on 132 and Trott 54, the duo overcame some early scares at the hands of Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus to take England’s score past 350.

The Warwickshire batsman received a huge let-off on 65 as a lazy cut off Watson picked out Michael Clarke at first slip, but Australia’s vice-captain was unable to hold on to the simplest of chances, much to the frustration of the bowler.

Cook slashed Mitchell Johnson through point for four in the next over and Australia’s misery deepened as the seamer sent a horrendous delivery way down the leg side for five wides.

Back-to-back boundaries from Cook, the latter a glorious cover drive, took him past his previous highest Test score - 173 against Bangladesh in Chittagong earlier this year.

Xavier Doherty was then despatched to the fence on two occasions by Trott and the 200 partnership arrived in the next over.

With Australia now on the ropes, Cook lofted Doherty high over midwicket for his 19th boundary before seeing consecutive deliveries turn sharply past wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for four byes.

Cook soon moved to 200 - from 360 balls - with a quick single off Doherty.

And there was still time for Trott to reach his century from the penultimate ball of the session, ensuring England’s top three batsmen reached three figures in the same innings for only the second time in Tests, with Sir Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Frank Woolley having accomplished the feat against South Africa at Lord’s in 1924.

Runs continued to flow after the interval, with the erratic Johnson coming in for the heaviest punishment.

The left-armer was unable to display any consistency in a dismal spell which saw boundaries conceded on either side of the wicket.

Cook survived a scare on 209 as he clipped Doherty to Ponting at short midwicket. Australia’s captain thought he had taken a clear catch, but the batsman survived as replays failed to conclusively prove whether the ball had carried.

Doherty was hammered down the ground by the left-hander in his next over and Trott repeated the trick as the partnership neared 300.

Cook had another let-off when Ponting spilled a tricky chance at slip off Watson.

By this stage, England had adopted a hugely aggressive approach, typified by a sensational lofted straight drive from Trott off Watson that flew to the boundary.

And when Cook spanked Doherty over mid-on for yet another four, he and Trott had overtaken the record partnership in Tests at the Gabba, set by Mike Hussey and Haddin earlier in this match.

Strauss decided he had seen enough soon after and Australia's bowlers were probably grateful.

James Anderson and Broad were given the task of making a breakthrough before tea and the latter worried Katich with a beautiful delivery that swung past the outside edge.

It was a similar ball that accounted for the Essex man soon after and Anderson was unfortunate not to pick up Watson in the final over of the session as a length ball seamed away from the right hander’s defensive prod.

Watson picked up back-to-back fours off Anderson shortly after tea, prompting the duo to exchange verbal pleasantries for the remainder of the over

Ponting greeted the introduction of Swann with an on-drive to the boundary.

The off-spinner thought he had removed Watson later in the over, only for Collingwood to spill a regulation chance at slip after a straighter delivery had taken the shoulder of the bat.

Ponting took the attack to England as the end approached, cracking Steven Finn for consecutive boundaries and collecting a huge six over wide long-on in Swann’s first over.

There was just enough time for the Tasmanian to bring up a 56th Test fifty, from just 41 balls, as Australia ended a chastening day on a high note.

England women reveal Australia party

England women’s selectors today named a 15-player squad to defend the Ashes on the tour of Australia in January.

Pace bowler Katherine Brunt will return to the squad following a period of strength and conditioning, as will left-arm spinner Holly Colvin after a busy three months of university studies. England stalwart Beth Morgan will also re-join the squad as they head Down Under looking to retain their Ashes crown.

England Women’s Academy graduates Susie Rowe and Fran Wilson have secured a place in the squad after both demonstrated their skills to selectors on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

England will play three one-day internationals, a five-match Twenty20 international series and a four-day Test for the women’s Ashes from January 5 to 25.

The first and second Twenty20 matches will be played directly before England men play Australia on January 12 and 14, at the Adelaide Oval and the MCG respectively. Both of these matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Clare Connor, head of England Women’s Cricket, said: “After an unbeaten tour to Sri Lanka, the selectors have made a few adjustments to the squad that will travel to Australia.

“The recent Sri Lanka tour successfully exposed some of our recent Academy graduates to international cricket, all of whom took their opportunities with Susie Rowe and Fran Wilson retaining their spots for the tour to Australia.

“Every cricketer dreams of a tour to Australia and I am confident that this squad will return with many successes to speak of, most notably with the Ashes retained.”

England women’s squad

Charlotte Edwards (captain, Kent)
Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)
Holly Colvin (Sussex)
Jenny Gunn (vice-captain, Nottinghamshire)
Lydia Greenway (Kent)
Lauran Griffiths (Cheshire)
Isa Guha (Berkshire)
Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire)
Heather Knight (Berkshire)
Laura Marsh (Sussex)
Beth Morgan (Middlesex)
Susie Rowe (Kent)
Claire Taylor (Berkshire)
Fran Wilson (Somerset)
Danielle Wyatt (Staffordshire)

One-day international series

Wednesday 5 January: 1st ODI, Perth, 10.00am
Friday 7 January: 2nd ODI, Perth, 2.30pm
Sunday 9 January: 3rd ODI, Perth, 10.00am

Twenty20 international series

Wednesday 12 January: 1st T20, Adelaide Oval*, 2.00pm
Friday 14 January: 2nd T20, Melbourne MCG*, 2.35pm
Sunday 16 January: 3rd T20, Canberra, 12.05pm
Monday 17 January: 4th T20, Canberra, 3.05pm
Tuesday 18 January: 5th T20, Canberra, 3.05pm

Cook and Trott delighted with draw

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott hailed a job well done as England's top three batsmen helped secure a comfortable draw in the first Ashes Test.

Cook scored a ground record 235 not out and Trott added 135 to steer England to 517 for one – the tourists’ highest total at the Gabba – before the sides shook hands with Australia on 107 for one in pursuit of a notional 297.Trott, who began the day on 54 with England 309 for one, said: "It's nice to get in and play a big part with Alastair and to help save the game. I'm just happy to contribute really.

"It's a very difficult game, as we all know. I'm very pleased with how it's gone."

Cook, who had resumed on 132 this morning, added: "Last night I was really happy to bat through the whole day. I'm really pleased to finally make a double hundred."

Cook acknowledged with some modesty that he had broken Don Bradman's record Test score at Brisbane.

"I feel slightly humble at that, slightly ruining all the records there for the wrong reasons but it's a nice one to have," he said.

Trott paid tribute to Cook and captain Andrew Strauss for playing calm and confident knocks to get the ball rolling in the second-innings reply.

"The way Andrew and Alastair batted at the beginning set the tempo for the innings,” he observed.

“It's always nice to come in when you're 180 for one (sic), the job was done by them and we just continued to do the work really.

"We wanted to get it on a bit and set them something and have a little bowl at them and see what we could do.“That was the sort of impetus that we needed, and it was nice to go through the gears in a Test match."

Strauss was impressed by his team's character after a poor start for the team and him personally when he was out for a third-ball duck on day one.

"Getting out in the first over in the first Test is a pretty horrendous way to start,” he said.

“We felt pretty low then and after day three we felt downbeat as well, we'd done good things and we were behind in the game.

"But we dug pretty deep and we're very happy to be nil-all. Nothing changes and both sides will come out hard in the next Test in Adelaide."

Asked about England's approach to the second innings, when they needed 221 just to make Australia bat again, Strauss said:

"If you just go into your shell and try and survive you play into the opposition's hands.

“If you look for scoring opportunities it creates momentum for you and once we got that momentum it became easier and easier."

Australia skipper Ponting admitted his side had let the chance of victory slip away onday four and added: "We probably haven't played our best the last couple of days of the game.

"The wicket did change dramatically and the last three days of the game have been dominated by the bat."

Ponting ended the day unbeaten on 51 and said: "I obviously wanted to get some time in the middle. It finished the game on a good note.

"We should know a lot about their top three batsmen. We've got some work to do, Adelaide is a very good batting wicket.

"We just weren't able to mount any pressure on them. They played very well and you have got to give them credit."

Chapple Reappointed As Lancashire Captain

All-rounder Glen Chapple is to stay on as Lancashire captain and continue in the role for his third season, the club have confirmed.

Chapple succeeded Stuart Law as captain in 2009 and last year took 52 Championship wickets and scored 403 runs before being named as the Club's Player Of The Year.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years as club captain and I am delighted to continue the responsibility into 2011," Chapple, who joined Lancashire in 1992, said.

“We have a great set of lads at the Club and we will continue to work hard to achieve our goals.”

Head Coach, Peter Moores, added: “Over the past two seasons, Glen has grown into the role of Captain and has shown that the demands of the job have enhanced his performances with both bat and ball.

“He is highly respected by both players and coaches alike and his contributions, on and off the field, have been outstanding.

"His commitment and passion for the Club and the game remain total and his performances on the pitch continue to inspire those around him.

Flower has cancerous growth removed

England's coach, Andy Flower, was forced to miss the second day of the opening Ashes Test at the Gabba after undergoing an operation to remove a cancerous growth, or melanoma, in his right cheek.

According to an ECB spokesman, Flower, 42, noticed the growth earlier this week during the final days of England's build-up for the series, and opted to undergo a precautionary operation at a local Brisbane hospital. He is expected to rejoin the squad before the end of the Test.

"As far as he is concerned, it is business as usual," said the spokesman. "He was not at the game today, because he had a melanoma taken out - which was successful. At this stage, he is expected to be fine.

"He went off for a routine check, and they said they felt it prudent to take it out," said the spokesman. "He may well be back on deck tomorrow, or most definitely the following day."

The early removal of such growths is usually almost 100% effective to combating the disease, and the prevention of skin cancer is an issue that is widely promoted in Australia.

In his absence, the fielding coach Richard Halsall has been put in temporary charge of the squad

Draw For 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40 Confirmed

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the composition of the three groups for the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40.
As in 2010, the 18 first-class counties, along with the Netherlands, Scotland and the Unicorns - a team made-up of England-qualified cricketers who don't hold first-class contracts - will be split into three groups of seven, playing each other once home and away before the three group winners and runner-up with the best record, advance to the semi-finals.

Reigning champions Warwickshire have been placed in Group B while runners-up Somerset will meet 2010 semi-finalists Essex in Group C.
Group A: Derbyshire, Kent, Middlesex, Netherlands, Sussex, Worcestershire, Yorkshire
Group B: Durham, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Scotland, Surrey, Warwickshire
Group C: Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Unicorns

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook led from the front with magnificent centuries as England overhauled their first-innings deficit and forged ahead on the fourth day of the opening Ashes Test.
Having resumed on 19 without loss, the duo took their partnership to 188 before Strauss - who had been dropped by Mitchell Johnson off Xavier Doherty when he had 69 to his name - eventually departed to Marcus North for 110 midway through the afternoon session.
Cook, who finished the day unbeaten on 132, then shared an unbroken century stand with Jonathan Trott, who made 54 not out, as the tourists moved to 309 for one at stumps.
It is the first time England’s openers have each made centuries in an Ashes Test since Charlie Barnett and Len Hutton accomplished the feat at Trent Bridge in 1938 and the tourists now have a real chance of salvaging at least a draw from a match they appeared likely to lose just 24 hours earlier.
Strauss will take particular satisfaction from his hundred after falling to a third-ball duck in the first innings, while Cook followed up his 67 on day one with an even more impressive knock - silencing any doubts over his ability to score runs in Australia.
England batted positively from the outset this morning, which began 12 minutes early to make up for time lost yesterday, as they looked to wipe out their arrears.
Cook was fortunate to see a thick outside edge off Peter Siddle fly through the vacant fourth slip region for four early on, but he then picked up two with a push into the covers to reach 10,000 runs in first-class cricket.

A more convincing boundary followed as Cook deposited Siddle to the point boundary with a forceful back-foot drive, while Strauss picked up his first four with a similar shot off Shane Watson. Both men continued to find the fence with regularity as the morning progressed and Strauss reached fifty with a swept single off Doherty, having driven the previous ball for four. The Middlesex opener took England’s score to 100 with another crashing shot through the covers off Siddle. Australia’s first innings bowling hero responded superbly and was desperately unfortunate to see an inside edge from Strauss miss the stumps and fly to the fine-leg boundary. England’s captain survived a huge scare shortly before lunch as Johnson spilled a relatively straightforward chance at mid-off after Strauss had skipped down the wicket to Doherty. A brief lull in proceedings followed as Australia turned to spin at both ends in the shape of Doherty and North. Cook then brought up his half-century in the penultimate over of the session to round off a wonderful morning for the tourists. Strauss looked in great touch after the interval, stroking Ben Hilfenhaus through the covers for four before picking up another boundary with a lofted straight drive off Doherty. There were a couple of brief scares for the skipper as he closed in on three figures. An attempted pull off Hilfenhaus looped high over gully and Doherty saw a strong appeal for leg before correctly turned down by umpire Aleem Dar.

Strauss made it to a hundred in Doherty’s next over - from 184 balls and with 15 fours - with a late cut to the third man boundary. But he was then removed by North, who had earlier induced an edge from Cook that fell short of Michael Clarke at slip. The part-time off-spinner tempted Strauss down the pitch with a beautifully flighted delivery which turned sharply past the bat to give Brad Haddin the simplest of stumpings. Trott picked up his first boundary with a glove to fine-leg off Siddle before Cook brought up England’s 200 with a cut through point off North. Australia were unable to build any pressure as they searched for a second breakthrough, with Johnson coming in for particular punishment. Trott cracked the left-armer through the covers for four - in an over that was taken for 11 - to move England into the lead. Cook then collected boundaries in successive Doherty overs to move to 94, but had to wait for the opportunity to bring up his century as tea was taken soon after. The milestone was reached in the second over of the evening session as the left-hander cut Siddle through point for his ninth four. Australia took the new ball at the earliest opportunity and almost gained an immediate reward as Cook was dropped by a diving Siddle at fine-leg after top-edging an attempted hook off Hilfenhaus. Trott increased Siddle’s misery by whipping the seamer through midwicket for four in his next over. And there was further frustration for the Victorian when England’s number three picked out a diving Clarke at backward point, only for the ball to squirm out of the fielder’s left hand as he landed. Trott had another close shave when a fierce lbw appeal from Hilfenhaus was turned down by umpire Dar. The hosts used their second review in an attempt to overturn the decision, but replays suggested the ball would have missed off stump.

Cook
brought up the 100 partnership with yet another boundary off Johnson
before Trott survived a second leg before shout, this time from Watson.
The Warwickshire batsman went to his fifty soon after, from 105 balls, and he and Cook continued to make serene progress against a tiring attack before bad light brought play to an early close.

England win the Ashes:

 

 

England last won the Ashes in Australia 23 years ago. Here we plunder the archives for some of the best coverage of that historic tour of Australia

 

England team has been tipped to snatch a historic series win. The last time England won the Ashes on Australian soil was when Mike Gatting's team recorded a 2-1 series victory 23 years ago.
Beating the Australians in front of their own fans has never been easy. England have won just three Tests played on Australian pitches since 1986-7. If the current England captain is looking to spur on his side then he might want to flick through the archives for reports of how Gatting's team triumphed in the 1986-7 series.
The redoubtable Matthew Engel was despatched by this newspaper to cover the tour, and his match report on England's unlikely victory in the first test match contained some choice words which were probably relished by cricket fans back home. England won the first match by seven wickets thanks to heroic all rounder, Ian Botham, scoring a century in the first innings, and Graham Dilley forcing the Australians to follow-on. John Emburey and Phil DeFreitas polished off the opposition off in the second innings and the winning runs were scored just after lunch on the fifth day. England had found their form at the right time and the team went on to win the Ashes series handsomely.
  Winning the Ashes was especially gratifying for the England captain Mike Gatting who recalled in a recent interview that one smart hack at the time had dismissed England's chances of an away series win:

There are only three things wrong with this team. They can't bat, they can't bowl and they can't field.

When the tourist departed Australia after an exhausting four month tour they were laden down with trophies and prizemoney and even recieved a cable from the British Prime Minister: "I send you and the whole England cricket team my warmest congratulations on your magnificent achievement in adding the World Series Cup to the Challenge Cup and the Ashes. This must be an unprecedented clean sweep. We are all proud of you. Best wishes, Margaret Thatcher."

Simpson commits to Middlesex

Middlesex wicketkeeper-batsman John Simpson has signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to the county until end of the 2013 season.
The left-handed opener, 22, played in every one of Middlesex’s LV= County Championship and Clydesdale Bank 40 games this year and, although he did not feature in the Friends Provident t20, scored 876 runs. He also claimed 55 victims behind the stumps.
Middlesex managing director of cricket Angus Fraser said: "John is a very exciting young cricketer and I am delighted he will be spending the next three seasons at the club.
"I was extremely pleased with the way John performed in his first full season as first team wicketkeeper-batsman.
"We asked a lot of John during the summer and he took on each of the challenges head on. Keeping wicket and opening the batting is a tough job for a seasoned cricketer but he happily accepted the responsibility and performed admirably.
“He will only benefit from the experiences of 2010, a season in which he scored a maiden first-class hundred, and I expect him to improve and contribute even more in 2011.

“John works extremely hard at his game and is making real progress. I believe he has the potential to become an very good cricketer."

Finn deflects bowling plaudits

Steven Finn was quick to share praise for his six wickets on Ashes debut with his fellow bowlers after a sterling display from England’s front-line quartet today.
Finn registered Test-best figures of 6-125 with four post-tea victims as the tourists finally dismissed Australia for 481 - a lead of 221 reduced by 19 without loss at stumps on day three in Brisbane.
Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin’s Gabba record 307-run alliance established the hosts’ advantage after they resumed on 220 for five, having added 77 the previous evening.
However, their apparent dominance tells little of James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s misfortune during outstanding spells this morning with the second new ball.

Finn and Graeme Swann backed those up as England somehow went wicketless before lunch. It was not until after tea that Swann removed Haddin for 136 and Finn took the last four wickets, including Hussey for a Test-best 195
Finn said: “I picked up the wickets but I was the least consistent bowler - and I’m aware of that.
“Jimmy and Broady, and Swanny at times, bowled fantastically well - and when we work together as a unit that’s when we get our wickets. These wickets are for the unit.”
Finn, a 21-year-old playing in just his ninth Test, put England’s luckless toil during the first two sessions in perspective.
“I think that’s the nature of Test match cricket,” he added. “We were set up to deal with stuff like that, I think we kept our nerve well.
“I think the guys bowled fantastically well in the first hour and we didn’t quite get the rewards that we deserved for that but, they came later in the day.”
Hussey and Haddin regularly played and missed this morning and England’s agony grew when the former successfully reviewed Anderson’s leg before appeal but later the bowler could not reverse the roles because the tourists had no reviews remaining.
“It was frustration ... that wasn’t going to affect our performance,” Finn revealed. “We realised we didn’t have any reviews left, so there was nothing we could do about it.

“When you’re in the huddle there and you think you’ve go the wicket, you’re over the moon - and then it gets taken away. But it’s something you can’t let affect you.
“They played really well. They didn’t give us a chance, rode their luck and survived the tough times - and that’s what it takes to score hundreds like that in Test cricket.
“To concede a first-innings deficit is not good, but we feel we’ve done things properly. We kept the intensity up in the field, kept the pressure on.”
Finn, like Anderson and Broad, had bowled in excess of 30 overs by the time Australia were dismissed, while Swann had sent down 43.
Rather than using this as an excuse, the only member of the quartet to cost more than three an over targeted better next time.
“I think I’ve got a lot to improve on. Going at nearly for an over across the innings was disappointing,” he admitted.
Of the exacting workload, he said: “I’ve done it a couple of times for Middlesex, not in Test match cricket; the intensity is obviously a lot higher but I think my body’s adapting well and I’m enjoying it.
He added: “I thought we stuck to our task well and that will stand us in good stead over the next few weeks.”

Finn put his success against Australia’s tail - his last four wickets cost just 14 runs - down to having a method against every individual.
“We want to kill the tail, we want to take those wickets and we have plans for each batsman so if that means using the short ball then so be it,” he said.
With openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook set to resume in the morning, England still have hope of saving the game.
Finn knows how the tourists approach batting for as much of the last two days as possible is crucial.
He said: “We have to take each session by session and each ball by ball and can’t look too far ahead, saying ‘the guys have got to dig in and get big runs’.
“We’ve got to get in to start with so we’ll take each session by session, each hour by hour and see where that gets us.”
He added: “A couple of hard days of Test cricket aren’t going to knock it out of us; we’re still together as a unit and everyone’s really looking forward and looking to get us into a good position in this game.”

England chase 100th test victory over out of form Aussies

It's been a while since England won a test series in Australia = 35 years, losing 0-5, 1-4, 1-3, 1-3 and 0-3 after that 1985-87 tour under the captainship of Mike Gatting when visitors won 2-1..

Will Ashes 2010-11 be different? why not. England are in top form these days winning Ashes at home last year and performing remarkably in South Africa besides beating West Indies, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Luck seems to be favoring England too as they managed to win their maiden world cup (of twenty20) earlier this year while Australia, on other hand, are battling poorest form in a long time, losing last 3 test matches. England have made a sound begining to the tour as well, winning warm-up games against Western Australia at Perth and Australia A at Hobart although South Australia escaped with a draw thanks to rain. If visitors can perform to potential and ignore Aussie taunts which are always just around the corner, glory isn't out of their grasp.

Curtains, as always, will be raised at Gabba in Brisbane which traditionally hosts first test of every International cricket season in Australia. Hi-tec venue is known for it's fast and bouncy pitch that favours fast bowlers, specially first half of first day, which makes toss an important coin flick. Aussies like to bat first no matter what but England have hinted they're inclined to bowl first if conditions tempt.

Finn eyes crucial third morning

Steven Finn believes how England bowl with the new ball tomorrow morning could prove the difference between winning and losing the first Ashes Test.
Finn was central to England’s fightback on the second afternoon at the Gabba, removing Simon Katich - his maiden Ashes wicket - and Michael Clarke to help reduce Australia to 143 for five.
Mike Hussey responded with an unbeaten 81 which carried Australia to 220 for five by the close - 40 shy of England’s first-innings total - and, with the game so finely balanced, the morning session tomorrow threatens to be crucial.
England will be armed with the new ball, which was taken but not used as bad light and rain ended play 17 overs early today, and Finn hopes starting half an hour earlier to make up for lost time will aid him and his fellow fast bowlers.
“It’s pretty even at the moment,” he said. “We were in a similar position in our innings and a little bit of magic cut it short.
“That’s been the nature of the game so far - it has ebbed and flowed and I’m sure it will tomorrow.
“But we’re in a very good position in the game. It’s going to be nice to have the new ball at 9.30 in the morning when hopefully there will be a bit of cloud cover.
“We’re looking forward to it. The new ball is going to be important and how that goes may determine the rest of the game.”

Finn opened his Ashes account by taking a splendid low return catch to account for Simon Katich, and had Michael Clarke caught behind pulling en route to close-of-play figures of 2-61 from 15 overs.
James Anderson also struck twice and Stuart Broad bowled with great discipline and no little menace - yet no reward - on a day when Australia were restricted to a little more than 2.5 runs an over.
“We’re happy with our day’s work as a unit,” Finn added. “The other bowlers bowled fantastically well.
“The other two seamers have gone at two or just less than two an over. Swanny (Graeme Swann) bowled beautifully after his first few overs, got it in the right area and got a wicket, deservedly.
“You look at the guys’ economy rates, and I was by far the most expensive. Wickets give you confidence, but there are still areas in my bowling that I need to work on, having been hit for a few fours today.”
Finn’s leap of joy to mark his first wicket was in keeping with another thrilling day at the Gabba. The atmosphere was “perfect”, according to the 21-year-old.
“It was a fantastic moment. I was excited, as you could probably see by the celebration,” Finn added.
“Just to have 35,000 people in the ground every day has been great. It’s a pleasure to be playing in the Ashes, at a great stadium.
“It was great to get out there and bowl. Having heard the crowd all yesterday, screaming and shouting, to be able to play in front of them today was exhilirating.”
Finn and company were frustrated to be denied the new ball tonight after umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrove took the players from the field despite the floodlights being in use.

However eager they are to make an impression in the morning, Finn warned against the perils of trying to force the issue on a slow surface which has offered only occasional assistance to the seamers.
“We can’t chase wickets over here,” he cautioned. “It’s important we put the ball in the right area and try and make the batsmen make the mistakes.”
Asked how he had adjusted to conditions in Brisbane, he replied: “To be honest it’s not that different; you put yourself in each situation that’s in front of you.
“This wicket is a bit slower than some people expected and it’s important to adjust your length accordingly. There’s been a big deal made about us being in Australia but we have to vary our length on each wicket in England anyway.”

Essex Re-Sign Styris For Twenty20 Campaign

New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris has signed to play for Essex as their overseas player in the 2011 Friends Provident 20 competition having starred during the same competition in 2010.
Styris, who has played 29 Tests, 169 One-Day Internationals and 28 Twenty20 Internationals for his country, joined up with Essex and helped them reach the knockout stages of the competition by scoring 392 runs in 13 innings, including a 49-ball century against Surrey at Chelmsford.
He also claimed 13 wickets and was recently recalled to New Zealand's ODI squad to play India in a five-match series beginning on 28th November.

His appearance for Essex next season is still subject to approval from New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

EPP toil after Hildreth doubles up

Bat continued to dominate ball as the Queensland Academy mounted a strong response to the England Performance Programme’s imposing total on the second day of their tour match.
Having amassed 447 for six declared, the EPP endured a gruelling two sessions watching Queensland cruise to 233 for three at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
This morning saw James Hildreth convert his overnight 142 into a magnificent unbeaten 206, while Ajmal Shahzad, who resumed on 13, demonstrated his batting prowess by progressing to 52 not out.
Hildreth’s innings, which spanned 293 balls and contained 23 fours and four sixes, was the chief reason behind the EPP - 337 for six at the start of play - scoring quickly enough to declare before lunch. The unbroken seventh-wicket stand was ultimately worth 132.
However, a breakthrough proved beyond the EPP seamers in the eight overs possible before the interval, and Queensland’s Alex Kemp and Andrew Robinson prospered thereafter to extend their opening stand to 136.
They fell for 85 and 77 respectively but Joe Burns made 32 and Glen Batticcioto and Jason Floros saw the hosts to the close without further loss of a day on which the EPP bowlers were punished for failing to maintain a fuller length.
There was a wicket apiece for Chris Woakes, Shahzad and Liam Plunkett, while Chris Tremlett - one of three players drafted in from the England Test squad currently in action at the Gabba - bowled tidily in conceding 19 off 11 overs