Cook is Australian Masterchef!

Openers second straight hundred helps England take stranglehold

Cook, who made 235 not out in the second innings of the drawn first Test, looked immovable alongside Kevin Pietersen, who was unbeaten on 85, as England ended a blistering day at the Adelaide Oval on 317 for two in response to Australia's 245.

The 25-year-old Cook pumped his fist in delight after bringing up his 15th Test century by cutting a terrible ball from spinner Xavier Doherty for four, summing up the contempt he showed to any loose bowling that came his way.

“You've got to cash in when you're in that kind of form,” Cook told reporters. “They were excellent conditions to bat in, 37 degrees on a very good wicket.”

The left-hander's one scare came when was given out caught behind off Peter Siddle on 65, but he indignantly demanded a review of the decision and television pictures confirmed the ball had grazed his upper arm.

Cook, who made 67 in his first innings at the Gabba, has been on the field for all but 68 balls of the entire Ashes series so far. After England skipper Andrew Strauss was dismissed off the third ball of the day, Cook and Jonathan Trott picked up where they left off in their unbeaten stand of 329 in the first Test.

When Trott, who had survived a couple of scares, was finally caught by Michael Clarke off the pace bowling of Ashes debutant Ryan Harris for 78, the England pair had combined for a total of 502 runs over the last two innings.

Doug Bollinger, recalled with Harris for this Test, had given the hosts a dream start by clean bowling Strauss for one run in the first over, delighting much of the packed house basking in the morning sun.

After that, though, the revamped Australia strike attack of Bollinger, Harris and Siddle laboured on a flat pitch in temperatures up to 37 degrees Celsius. They got little help from their team-mates as the Australians failed to grasp all but one of the few chances that came their way.