Cook century puts England in charge

Alastair Cook’s second successive century ensured England stormed into 72-run lead on day two of the second Test in Adelaide as the tourists finished on 317-2.

Cook hit a superb unbeaten 136 despite his captain Andrew Strauss falling to just the third ball of the day after he decided to leave Doug Bollinger’s delivery, which clipped his bail after scoring only a single run.

Jonathan Trott came in to replace Strauss at number three and aided Cook until just before tea when the Warwickshire batsman went for 78.

Kevin Pietersen joined the Essex opener at the crease and in typical fashion hit a swashbuckling 50 from 77 balls, at stumps the South African born star was on 85 and at the start of day three he will want to carry on as he finished if he has any hope of hitting his first century for England since 2009.