The Ashes 2010: Cook desperately wants to ‘keep his form going’

SYDNEY - England batsman Alastair Cook, who has 450 runs at an astonishing average of 225 in this Ashes series, has said that he desperately wants to keep “this form going.”

“You’ve always got that nagging doubt as a batter. ‘What if I don’t score any more runs?’ You’re always thinking: ‘What about the next innings?’ But, having said all that, I desperately want to keep this form going,” The Telegraph quoted Cook, as saying.

Surprisingly Cook experienced twin failures in the match against Victoria last weekend, scoring 27 and 10.

However he had hit a career-best 235 not out, while Jonathan Leonard Trott made an unbeaten 135, as merciless England declared the second innings at a record 517-1 from 152 overs at the Gabba.

Set 297 to win from 41 overs, Australia eased their way to 107-1 from 26 overs before both captains agreed to end the match 15 overs early. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was unbeaten on 51 with opening batsman Shane Watson on 41.

Cook’s double century was the sixth best Ashes score by an Englishman, and he also surpassed Sir Don Bradman for the highest score at the Gabba.

Cook and Trott’s unbeaten 329 run stand for the second wicket was the ninth highest England partnership in history. It was also the best partnership for England for any wicket in Australia, beating the 323 by Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1911-12. (ANI)