ALASTAIR COOK hit a magnificent double hundred as England batted themselves into a dominant position in the Fourth Test.
The England opener has occupied the crease for nearly 11 hours as he finished the day unbeaten on 244.
Here are five key moments from another brilliant day’s Test cricket in Melbourne.
Root needs some luck
JOE ROOT has really struggled in the last couple of years to convert fifties into hundreds.
Today was the perfect opportunity – and he looked well set after cruising through the opening hour.
But then a moment of madness, hooking at a Cummins bouncer, saw the England captain dismissed for 61. It was very soft – and the England captain threw a paddy on his walk back to the pavilion.
"That's a shocking shot!"
Joe Root falls for 61.
Geoffrey Boycott says he's just given it away…
BT Sport 1 HD#Ashes #ItsTheAshes pic.twitter.com/77LJ95J7c4
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 28, 2017
DRS…again
ONE of the biggest talking points from day two was the dismissal of James Vince – and his decision not to review after edging into his pads.
Guess what? It happened again.
Only this time, the edge was huge – yet Dawid Malan didn’t choose to go upstairs when wrongly given out LBW.
Bizarre.
MASSIVE inside edge but Dawid Malan doesn't review the decision
249-4
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 28, 2017
Cook at the double
ALASTAIR COOK has now occupied he crease for over ten hours in this epic innings.
Patience, graft, grit and the occasional waft of brilliance – this was vintage Chef.
What a moment for him this was, as he brought up the double hundred with yet another drive through mid-on.
Special stuff.
DOUBLE HUNDRED
Alastair Cook has produced one of his greatest ever innings at the MCG
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 28, 2017
Broady is back
THIS knock could be the turning point of the Test match.
Stuart Broad’s struggles with the bat are well documented, but he came out and faced the inevitable barrage of short stuff.
He was brave, aggressive and sylish in equal measure for a quickfire 56 which has helped extend England’s lead well into three figures.
Listen to that roar
Stuart Broad reaches fifty and the Barmy Army give him a standing ovation!
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 28, 2017
10 hours and 37 minutes later…
Every member of the Australian team shakes the hand of Alastair Cook at the end of day three.
He salutes the Barmy Army and walks off to a standing ovation.
244 not out
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 28, 2017
Barmy to the end
ENGLAND’s supporters have had to endure a rotten tour up to this Test.
So to watch another day when their side dominated from start to finish was a joy – and they made the most of it.
Throughout the afternoon and evening sessions, the MCG rocked to the sound of jubilant England fans.
And in the final moments, their mocking of Jackson Bird signalled a shift in momentum – it’s just a shame it’s too late to save the urn.
England's 12th man
@TheBarmyArmy urging the boys on!
They've deserved a day like this for their support this series
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 28, 2017
@TheBarmyArmy mimicking every movement of Jackson Bird who has gone for over 100 runs in this innings!
This is payback for Ronnie Irani!
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 28, 2017
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