1st Ashes test ends in draw at Brisbane

Simon Katich (4) was the lone batsman to be dismissed on Monday,nicking Stuart Broad to Andrew Strauss at first slip in the sixth over of Australia’s reply.

Cook’s knock was the highest ever test score at the Gabba ground,surpassing Donald Bradman’s 226 in 1931. Jonathan Trott left the crease on 135,his second Ashes century in two tests.

Cook’s innings,his highest test score,saw him become just the fourth Englishman to score a double hundred in Australia,following R.E. Foster,Wally Hammond and Paul Collingwood.

Cook and Trott shared a second-wicket stand of 329 runs,the highest England partnership in Australia,surpassing Jack Hobbs’ and Wilfred Rhodes’ 323 in 1912.

The test only briefly appeared likely to end with a result on a pitch that got better for batting as the match went on and saw Australia’s Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin score centuries on the third day,and England captain Andrew Strauss pass 100 on Sunday.

After ending its first innings 221 runs ahead,Australia failed to capitalize and could manage just one wicket from 152 overs of England’s second innings.

Watson bowled well Monday,but was not supported in the field as Michael Clarke dropped Trott while on 75 and Ponting put down Cook on 209.

The Australian captain was at the centre of a controversial moment when Cook,at 209,hit a Xavier Doherty ball to him at short midwicket. It seemed that Ponting had caught the ball just above the ground but Aleem Dar did not give it out and television replays were too inconclusive to allow the third umpire to dismiss the England opener.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson continued to struggle,conceding 39 runs from his nine overs on Monday,including five wides down the leg-side. He allowed 170 runs in the test without taking a wicket,failed to score a run and dropped a catch,and his place in the side could be

in jeopardy with Doug Bollinger in line to take his place for the second test in Adelaide on Friday.

Although Doherty is likely to get a second chance on a spinner’s wicket,he posedf little threat despite the occasional prodigious turning delivery.

The only worry for England going into the second test may come from talismanic spinner Graeme Swann,who ended the game with figures of 2-161.