Alastair Cook’s record-breaking double-century kept England in control of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.
Cook (244no), with a best of just 37 in his previous 10 innings, resumed on day three with his 32nd Test hundred already in the book – and what followed was remarkable, especially during a ninth-wicket stand of exactly 100 with Stuart Broad (56), as he made up entirely for the fragility of several team-mates.
England’s all-time record run-scorer beat Wally Hammond’s previous Melbourne Cricket Ground-record 200 for a compatriot, and then surpassed Viv Richards‘ best of 209 from any overseas batsman here.