Jimmy Anderson plays part in Ashes first Test draw

The 28-year-old bowled five overs during Australia’s second innings as the hosts closed on 107-1, after chasing 297 to win from 41 overs, which saw the match culminate in an expected draw.

Alastair Cook’s unbeaten 235, in England’s phenomenal 517-1, was the sixth best Ashes score by an Englishman, while he also surpassed Sir Don Bradman for the highest Test score at the Gabba.

Cook and Jonathan Trott, who finished on 135 not out, put on 329 for the second wicket - the ninth highest England stand in history.

Their partnership was the most productive by an England pairing on Australian soil and the best by any duo in Brisbane.

But it was Anderson’s performance on the second day that really stood out.

After taking the wickets of opener Shane Watson and Aussie captain Ricky Ponting, the former St Theodore’s RC High School pupil bowled a superb spell without much fortune.

Anderson looked to have Michael Hussey LBW in the earlier stages of the star man’s innings, but on review the ball had pitched outside off stump.

Then Anderson rapped Hussey on both pads, though the umpire adjudged the ball to have struck the Australian’s bat first.

Hussey went on to top score with 195.

The Burnley Express had been relied on heavily by skipper Andrew Strauss in the opening exchanges, bowling 42 overs in total, while he also hit 11 from 23 deliveries at the back end of England’s first innings total of 260.

Australia ended on a positive note with Ponting hitting 51 not out and Watson unbeaten on 41, but Anderson will now be looking to improve further on his impressive form in the second Test at Adelaide.

Elsewhere, former Colne professional Marcus North claimed the solitary wicket in England’s astonishing 517 total, ousting Strauss, while ex-Lowerhouse paid man Ryan Harris has been called up to the Australia side for the second Test, which gets underway tomorrow.