England opener Alastair Cook scored his fifth Test double century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test to steer his side to a dominating position.

The former Test captain remained unbeaten at 244*, at the close of play.

The thirty-three-year-old Cook joined the great Wally Hammond (England) and Brian Lara (West Indies) to become the third player to register two overseas double hundreds in Australia.England, who are playing for pride after having already lost the Ashes urn to Australia, bundled out the hosts for 327 in their first innings just after lunch of Day Two.

In reply, the Joe Root-led side were reduced to 80-2 after opener Mark Stoneman and James Vince were dismissed cheaply for 15 and 17 respectively.

However, Cook along with Joe Root (61) and Stuart Broad (56) put England in a rare position of strength.England lead by 164 runs with a wicket remaining at stumps on Day 3.

The home side had already regained the Ashes urn after they thrashed the visitors by an innings and 41 runs in Perth to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

England build a lead over Australia in the fourth Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

England opener Alastair Cook scored his fifth Test double century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test to steer his side to a dominating position. The former Test captain remained unbeaten at 244*, at the close of play. The thirty-three-year-old Cook joined the great Wally Hammond (England) and Brian Lara (West Indies) to become the third player to register two overseas double hundreds in Australia.England, who are playing for pride after having already lost the Ashes urn to Australia, bundled out the hosts for 327 in their first innings just after lunch of Day Two. In reply, the Joe Root-led side were reduced to 80-2 after opener Mark Stoneman and James Vince were dismissed cheaply for 15 and 17 respectively. However, Cook along with Joe Root (61) and Stuart Broad (56) put England in a rare position of strength.England lead by 164 runs with a wicket remaining at stumps on Day 3. The home side had already regained the Ashes urn after they thrashed the visitors by an innings and 41 runs in Perth to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Ashes, Day 3: England 491-9 at close in reply to Australia's 327

England fast bowler James Anderson expects Australia to continue peppering the touring tailenders with short-pitched deliveries in the remaining two Ashes tests and says he has no problems with that.

Former England captain Michael Atherton has urged umpires to invoke cricket`s laws and protect England`s tailenders from Australia`s relentless &quot;bodyline&quot; bowling Down Under.

Anderson was struck on the side of his helmet in the third test, which Australia won convincingly to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, and was seen talking to umpires after the game.

&quot;I have actually chatted to the umpires about it during this series and they say at test level you should be able to handle short balls. That is a clear message to get in the nets and practice against bouncers,&quot; Anderson wrote in his column for the Telegraph.

&quot;I was not quizzing the umpires or asking them to stop it happening. I was just interested in their opinion. I guess we just need to get better at playing them. I have no problem with that. It is part and parcel of the game.&quot;

&quot;We have bounced tailenders in this series and at other teams. The only time I think umpires should step in is if it is clear that a player cannot cope with them. Then the umpires should step in more.&quot;

Australia captain Steve Smith and paceman Pat Cummins have defended their team`s strategy and warned that the bouncer barrage will continue in the final two tests at Melbourne and Sydney.

&quot;We know it will not stop in this series and playing the short ball better is one challenge for the final two tests when we need to show some pride and prove to people we are not a walkover as a team,&quot; Anderson added.

England will expect some relief after Australia`s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the Melbourne test with a heel injury.

England will expect some relief after Australia`s Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the Melbourne test with a heel injury

England fast bowler James Anderson expects Australia to continue peppering the touring tailenders with short-pitched deliveries in the remaining two Ashes tests and says he has no problems with that. Former England captain Michael Atherton has urged umpires to invoke cricket`s laws and protect England`s tailenders from Australia`s relentless "bodyline" bowling Down Under. Anderson was struck on the side of his helmet in the third test, which Australia won convincingly to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, and was seen talking to umpires after the game. "I have actually chatted to the umpires about it during this series and they say at test level you should be able to handle short balls. That is a clear message to get in the nets and practice against bouncers," Anderson wrote in his column for the Telegraph. "I was not quizzing the umpires or asking them to stop it happening. I was just interested in their opinion. I guess we just need to get better at playing them. I have no problem with that. It is part and parcel of the game." "We have bounced tailenders in this series and at other teams. The only time I think umpires should step in is if it is clear that a player cannot cope with them. Then the umpires should step in more." Australia captain Steve Smith and paceman Pat Cummins have defended their team`s strategy and warned that the bouncer barrage will continue in the final two tests at Melbourne and Sydney. "We know it will not stop in this series and playing the short ball better is one challenge for the final two tests when we need to show some pride and prove to people we are not a walkover as a team," Anderson added. England will expect some relief after Australia`s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the Melbourne test with a heel injury.

England tail ready for more bouncer barrage, says James Anderson

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Ashes, Day 3: England 491-9 at close in reply to Australia's 327

England tail ready for more bouncer barrage, says James Anderson