Ashes T 5 Day 2 Stumps: Cook Keeps England in the Hunt After Aussie Tailenders Wag

Australia may be stretching England by a mile. And the credit for that should go to Australia's lower order. However, England have lost focus as is evident in Alastair Cook keeping a close watch at stumps on the second day of the fifth Test of the Ashes 2010 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

alastair cook bats ben hilfenhaus falls

From overnight on 134 for four, Australia were able to post a score of 280 largely due to the largesse of Mitchell Johnson's bat combined with the bluster of Ben Hilfenhaus, also with the bat.

After slipping to eight down for 189, Australia were rescued by the bowling duo in a desperate bid as Australia look to prevent England from winning the Ashes outright even though England have already retained the Ashes urn.

Johnson's half century and Hilfenhaus' thirty-four were agonizing from England's perspective because they would have felt they had made light of the Australian batting line up, in the absence of Ricky Ponting, and with the stand in captain, Michael Clarke unable to create any dent overnight as James Anderson had one more than Tim Bresnan's three wickets to show for the innings tally. The only standout really for the debut of Usman Khawaja, until the final two wicket partnership that brought Australia back into contention.

But it was hard work for the hosts once more with the England openers giving England a sprightly start. The ninety-eight run partnership highlighting the problems in the Australian camp once more. When the England captain, Andrew Strauss, finally fell for sixty, Australia had a double break. Jonathan Trott fell for a duck and it was up to Kevin Pietersen to play the consolidating role with the England opener.

However, the defiance ended on 165 with KP gone for thirty-six. But Alastair Cook was holding up his end of the bargain and although Australia would think Cook has done enough on this Ashes tour to make amends, England would feel Cook needs to go the extra mile, batting as he is not out on sixty-one with England on 167 for three. As