THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE YEAR THEY WON DOWN UNDER:

Strauss and Cook help England rally (Evening Standard, 28.11.10)

England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook confirmed their appetite for the battle to save the first Ashes Test as they produced an unbroken century stand.

The tourists set out on day four at the Gabba on 19 without loss and facing a first-innings deficit of 221, and needing realistically to bat for at least the next four sessions.

They ended an extended session, under cloudy skies, on 135 - England's best for the first wicket at this ground - still with much work to do but having made a near-perfect start to their mission improbable, on a pitch wearing plenty of cracks but favouring the batsmen.