Cook can't stop

SECOND DAY

To lunch: Third ball and Strauss is out allowing a ball to go past, except it didn't. Never mind, by lunch Cook and Trott have taken to score to 90-1 in perfect safety. What is wrong with Strauss? Too much on his mind is my guess.

To tea: Trott reaches 78 without trouble before carelessly hitting a catch to Clarke at mid-wicket. He has already proved his worth for all there are many who resent his selection. When the first two Aussie wickets fell on day one Clarke was still in the nets, we hear. This sort of lack of discipline can be seen all the way through his team. England have concentration, discipline and application in bucketloads. It is the main difference between the two sides and Cook us there to demonstrate its value with 90 at tea while KP already looks set for a steady innings.

To close: So it turns out. Cook trots beyond 400 for the series, KP just like the big, rangy, I'm here to make mincemeat of anyone who tries to bowl, star batsman of two years ago. He's 85 and Cook, showing off in front of his parents, is 136 and no doubt seeing another double in his mind's eye.

Jo King, stats Queen, says: Stamina or runs Alistair Cook is surely man of the series already. He has been on the pitch for all but 11 overs and he cannot stop scoring runs and building partnerships. To think there were plenty of people who did not want him to play.