With the urn already safely secured by Australia in Perth, the return to form of two of England’s biggest guns - Cook with an unbeaten century (104) and Broad with four wickets - was welcome if a fortnight too late.

Yet their efforts ensured England go into day three here in Melbourne in a strong position on 192-2, trailing Australia’s first innings total of 327 by 135 runs.

Both men had plenty to prove with vultures circling over their Test careers and some pundits beginning calling for their heads.

In a session and a half Broad took three wickets as Australia’s tail crumbled from 260-3 to 327 all out, the fast bowler eventually finishing with figures of 4-51.

Jimmy Anderson also weighed in with 3-61 as Australia fell some way short of what was promised in the morning.

There was also a first Test wicket for Tom Curran, making up for his disappointment in losing his maiden Test wicket of David Warner to a no-ball on day one, getting Aussie skipper Steve Smith to play on to his stumps.

Broad has struggled on this tour and his efforts at the WACA, where he went wicketless with 0-142, were the worst figures of his career.

But yesterday he found greater pace and a touch of reverse swing to reboot stuttering form.

Cook, too, looked in better nick than he has since the summer. In 10 innings since his double hundred against West Indies at Edgbaston in mid-August he has averaged 14.4.

Yesterday’s unbeaten century (104no) was therefore an eloquent answer to those keen to bring the curtain down on his Test career.

Cook batted better than he has in some time against an attack lacking Mitchell Starc and hampered by a stomach illness for Pat Cumnins who battled on despite being in obvious discomfort.

He had a moment of good fortune when he was dropped on 66 by Australia captain Steve Smith at slip, a sharp chance off the bowling of Mitch Marsh he almost grabbed at second attempt.

But aside from that Cook looked largely untroubled, reaching his hundred with the fourth ball of the final over, hitting 10 off Steve Smith to get to his 32nd Test hundred.

Mark Stoneman and James Vince were the only England wickets to fall, the former guilty of a lack of commitment in chipping tamely back to off-spinner Nathan Lyon for 15.

The loss of the opener brought Vince to the wicket at 35-1 and he looked in the mood to continue his good form from the backend of Perth producing some high quality drives.

However Vince was to fall in typically infuriating fashion, lbw to Josh Hazlewood just after tea for 17.

The England man was given out but, after consultation with Cook, chose not to review the decision. Had he done so replays would have shown he got a nick on the ball before it struck his pad.

The mistake brought Root and Cook together. At the close the pair walked off unbeaten having added 112  for the third wicket, only the third hundred partnership of their series.