Alastair Cook hit a double hundred to defy Australian attempts to wrap up England’s first innings in the fourth Ashes in Melbourne on Thursday.
Cook made the highest score by a visiting batsman at the MCG to give England firm control of the Boxing Day Test.
The stoic opening left-hander finished the day with 244 not out on the third day, rebounding from a lean scoring series in the opening three Tests.
It was Cook’s fifth double hundred in 151 Tests with his highest score of 294 coming against India in Birmingham in 2011.
In the end, Cook’s third-highest Test score had led England to 491-9, a lead of 164.
