England leave Australia frustrated

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott continued their torment of Australian bowlers with another century stand at the Adelaide Oval.

England's second-wicket pair famously piled up a record 329 in the drawn first Test in Brisbane - and when Trott was finally out on the second afternoon of this second Ashes Test, they had put on 502 together in almost 10 previously undefeated hours.

The upshot was an England total of 198 for two at teatime, despite the near instant loss of captain Andrew Strauss on another glorious morning in reply to Australia's apparently under-par 245. Cook's share was an unbeaten 90 - his third half-century in as many attempts so far in this series - while Trott had to make do with 78.

There was some good fortune along the way too for the number three. But as for much of his unbeaten 235 at the Gabba, Cook was chanceless.

Strauss chose to leave the third delivery of the day, a length ball from left-armer Doug Bollinger, only to see it clip the top of his off bail. He was therefore gone for just a single.

With Strauss gone, Trott might have been run out for six as he scampered back from an aborted single. But Xavier Doherty missed the stumps from square-leg - unlike Trott himself, who had seen off Simon Katich in similar circumstances yesterday.

Then Michael Hussey dropped a regulation catch low down in the gully when Trott, on 10 this time, failed to keep an attempted drive at Bollinger on the ground.

Trott was runless, stuck on 37, for almost 40 minutes and 23 balls. But if Australia were hoping to beat the England number three in a patience test, the suspicion was they had picked the wrong man.

Australia fleetingly thought they had the breakthrough when Cook aimed a hook at a good bouncer from Siddle and was given out caught-behind on 64 by Marais Erasmus. An immediate decision to review was vindicated, however, replays showing the ball hitting only Cook's shoulder.

Trott had his third 'life' when Brad Haddin dropped a tough caught-behind chance from a mis-hook off the glove. But he was gone two runs later anyway, as his favourite back-foot punch to midwicket kept up and was well-caught by Michael Clarke.