the future's bright for england

By Andrew Ramsey

England's present remains decidedly bleak, but its future has taken on a glow after opener Alastair Cook became the nation's youngest player to score a century in an Ashes Test for almost 70 years.

Cook, who turns 22 on Christmas Day, appeared more relieved than delighted when he reached the mark late on day four with a single off Shane Warne at the end of a harrowing over against the legspinner when he was stranded on 99.

The youngest Englishman to achieve the feat against the long-time rivals was Dennis Compton, who was 20 years and 19 days when he scored 102 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1938.

Cook's achievement was as much one of endurance as of brilliance, as he reached three figures in the final hour of the day having batted for 335 minutes and facing 257 balls with eight boundaries.

It was the first time the left-hander had passed 50 for the series and came after his technique was questioned because of the similar manner of his dismissals to the Australian seamers earlier in the series.

While Cook's innings was timely, it was his long partnership with fellow youngster Ian Bell that would have gladdened English hearts even though the Ashes appear destined to slip from the holders' fingers.

Their 170-run stand was the best second-wicket partnership England has put on in Australia for more than 50 years, since Tom Graveney and Peter May added 182 in the fifth Test at the SCG in 1954-55.

Although he has not totally eradicated from his game that airy drive that has seen him caught behind the wicket in four of his previous five innings in this series, Cook showed great concentration on a good batting pitch.

His innings was far more valuable than it was memorable, threatening as it did Bob Woolmer's 396-minute epic at The Oval in 1975 as the slowest Ashes century on record.

But it justified the considerable praise heaped on the 21-year-old over the past year and confirmed the likelihood he - as well as Bell - will be a mainstay of England's batting for many years to come.

Bell could have been excused for having visions of The Oval, 2005 whirring through his mind as he walked to the crease with the Ashes in the balance late on Saturday evening.

With England 566 runs in arrears and his most inexperienced team-mate as his batting foil, he could almost hear the Australians' taunts of 15 months earlier reverberating in his ears.

For it was the fifth Test of last year's campaign that Bell suffered a meltdown amid the intensity of an Ashes battle.

With England requiring but a draw to regain the urn, the loss of two quick wickets on the opening morning brought the out-of-form batsman to the middle where a veteran Australian bowler reportedly snarled at him ``this stage is too big for you''.

He confirmed that assessment by labouring seven balls before being dismissed for zero, a knock that appeared positively bountiful against his second-innings offering - a first-ball duck.

So when the 24-year-old hustled on to the WACA with England's battle to save this Test (and the immediate fate of the Ashes) less than an over old, the stage had grown significantly larger.

And, just like The Oval in September last year, the highly-regarded right-hander was facing a pair.

But from such a dire outlook sprung a union that is likely to prosper for many an Ashes Test as the two English youngsters fashioned a partnership that belied their respective experiences.

With Cook content to play sheet anchor, Bell happily took on the responsibility of senior player and for half a day helped England entertain previously fanciful notions of escaping from this Test with a draw.

Bell, who - like Ricky Ponting - was earmarked as a future Test batsman from his mid-teens - was a stark contrast to the player who froze so utterly on the final disastrous morning in Adelaide.

On that occasion, he lost the plot and got himself run out to trigger his team's woeful capitulation.

In Perth he displayed his positive intent from the outset when he majestically pulled Glenn McGrath to the midwicket fence in the first over he faced.

In a single over from Shane Warne he clubbed the world's most successful bowler for a contemptuous six over long-on, and then followed with a searing drive to the extra cover to reach his third half-century of the series.

The redemption of an Ashes century appeared his for the taking until - having reached 87 - he became a victim of his own positive approach when he failed to get to the pitch of a flighted Warne delivery that dropped on him.

Bell was livid with himself as his attempted inside-out drive spooned chest high to short extra cover.

He kicked at the ground with his right foot, swung at the turf with his bat and threw back his head in anguish as he left the field to generous applause which he briefly but courteously acknowledged before disappearing down the players' tunnel.

It was an exit he clearly did not enjoy. But for almost four hours, he had finally made the stage his own.