Amazing Matt Prior inspires great escape

Alastair Cook was unable to watch the final nerve-wracking overs as England somehow scraped a Third Test draw to end the series all-square.

Matt Prior hit an unbeaten 110 and ensured England avoided humiliating defeat with the help of Ian Bell (75), Stuart Broad (61 balls before getting off the mark) and, at the death, Monty Panesar.

The No11 came to the wicket with 19 deliveries remaining and, at that point, Cook retreated to a dark corner of the dressing room.

He said: “I watched 95 per cent of it — the last 18 balls I didn’t watch, but I was having a running commentary. It was quite a nerve-racking day, when you can’t do anything about it. Matt Prior’s knock was just outstanding.”

Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum said the result was “heartbreaking” but, reflecting on England’s failure to win a series they were expected to dominate, Cook added: “We’re disappointed we haven’t done that. We haven’t played as well as we needed to. That’s the bottom line.”