ENGLAND were supposed to be butchered by the Aussies on the final two days of the First Test at the ‘Gabbatoir’ – but the script-writers failed to factor in the impact of a certain Cook.

The England fightback, led by Alastair Cook, will have cut through the hearts of the hosts like a hot knife through butter.

After being on course for victory at their Brisbane stronghold, Australia were made to look very ordinary indeed and it was England who will take all of the confidence and momentum heading to Adelaide.

Cook was the hero of the hour, or should that be 10 and a half hours, and I will be the first to admit that I did not think he was capable of such a stoic contribution. Humble pie has never tasted so good because Cook really came of age in this game.

But, in reality, it should not have come as much of a surprise considering that in his last Test match, when he was deemed to be one failure away from the chop, he showed amazing strength of character to score a ton against Pakistan.

It is the nature of his job as opener that Cook will face plenty more failure in his career but he has proved once and for all that he can stand up and be counted when it matters.

All of the euphoria must be tempered, however, with the fact that Ricky Ponting’s bowling attack was woeful. In 152 overs, the only wicket they picked up came courtesy of part-time spinner Marcus North. The stock of the rest of his attack fell south.

In sharp contrast, James Anderson and Stuart Broad will never bowl as well in their life and get so little reward and luck as they did on the third morning of the match against Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin.

Like Cook, Anderson defied his critics and showed he has the skills to be equally effective Down Under as he is in England.

Ponting did his best to seize back some of the initiative for his side with a quickfire fifty, but the damage had already been done.

It is Strauss and Co who take the momentum into the Second Test.