CRICKET FUNDA

BRISBANE: Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook shared in a ground record opening stand to strengthen England's chances of salvaging the opening Ashes Test against Australia at the Gabba on Sunday.

Eating into a 221-run innings deficit, the opening pair had taken England to 135 without loss at lunch on the fourth day to trail Australia by 86 runs.

Strauss hit some classic cover drives in his unbeaten 79 while Cook was on 51.

The pair put on their ninth century partnership together in 82 Test innings and England's highest at the Gabba.

They eclipsed the previous best of 114 at the Gabba shared between Herbert Sutcliffe and Douglas Jardine in the 1932-33 Bodyline series and David Sheppard and Geoff Pullar in 1962-63.

Australia's big moment came towards lunch when Mitchell Johnson put down a tough but catchable chance off Strauss when the English skipper was on 69.

Strauss had a rush of blood and lobbed debutant spinner Xavier Doherty to mid-off where Johnson leapt high and got both hands to the chance only to spill the ball.

Only Johnson and first-innings destroyer Peter Siddle looked threatening on the placid Gabba pitch and skipper Ricky Ponting rotated between six bowlers in search of a breakthrough.

Australia have earned a reputation since the retirement of champion bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne in 2007 of being unable to finish off teams, the latest coming in the one-wicket loss to India at Mohali last month.