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Third Test is a 'do or die' situation for England: Cook
England captain Alastair Cook is looking forward to the fight in the third Ashes Test against Australia in Perth.
Cook described the third Test as ‘do or die’ for England. However, Cook's cause was immediately hindered when Monty Panesar suffered an injury to further complicate England's delicate selection process.
According to the Guardian, Panesar, who made his first international appearance in almost nine months in the second Test defeat at Adelaide, was unable to bowl in the team's practice session at the WACA because of a sore side.
Cook confessed to a sleepless night after being bowled by Mitchell Johnson for one during England's second Test defeat in Adelaide.
He said that his team did not play well and that hurts like hell, adding that it has been a challenging few weeks and it's kind of do or die in this series, the report added.
Clarke, Cook play 100th individual Tests
Meanwhile, captains of opposing teams, Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook are reportedly set to share the same ground for their respective 100th Test in Perth this week.
In a rare and unusual event, as England and Australia would be playing against each other on Friday, Clarke and Cook are said to walk out for the coin toss for the start of the third Test that will mark a milestone in their careers.
According to news.com.au, Cook would have the rare and unfortunate duty of handing back the Ashes, that only David Gower (1989) and Andrew Flintoff (2007) have been forced to do amongst England captains during the past 30 years.
Meanwhile, if Clarke scores his 27th hundred, he would go past Mark Waugh to become Australia's fifth highest run scorer, the report added.
Merv Hughes backs Johnson to join elite '300 wicket club'
Former Aussie fast bowler, Merv Hughes has reportedly urged the selection panel to not overtax the player, as it may potentially lead to a premature end, and allow him to play into his mid-30s.
Hughes, a fan of the rotation policy and who gave Johnson his international debut, believes that a prudent approach with the star left-armer could have him play more and become only the fifth Australian to pass 300 wickets.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hughes said that Australia may not have looked after the paceman during his early days.
Johnson is capable of playing all forms
Hughes said that the players don't want to be rested but to get longevity in this day and age and Johnson is capable of playing all forms of the game.
The report said that Johnson, with 222 wickets from 53 Tests, is the man most likely to be the next inductee into Australia's exclusive 300 club, of which only Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee and Brett Lee hold membership.
Johnson, at his rate of 4.19 wickets a game, is expected to pass the milestone in the next two years if he stays fit.
Hughes further said that if Johnson continues to take four wickets a Test match, which he's capable of doing, it adds up and he'd have another three or four years in him, minimum, the report added.