Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook became England's most prolific Test opening partnership on Sunday as they frustrated Australia with a match-turning stand in the first Ashes Test. They put on 188 together, the highest English partnership for any wicket at Brisbane's Gabba ground, eclipsing the previous best of 160 between Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe in 1994.
In the course of blunting Australia's victory push and overturning the home side's massive 221-run first innings lead, Strauss and Cook, both centurions in England's 309 for one, became the top opening pair for their country.
They have now scored 3,415 runs as an opening partnership in 81 Test innings at an average of 43.22, surpassing the previous England best of 3,249 by the great 1920s and 30s pairing of Herbert Sutcliffe and Jack Hobbs.
The English skipper scored 110 for his 19th Test hundred and fourth against Australia, off 224 balls with 15 fours, some of them exquisite drives to the boundary ropes.
Cook made his 14th Test century and second against Australia to ram home the advantage over the home attack and was closing in on Ian Botham's highest score of 138 at the Gabba for England.
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