Cricket-Bell and Cook start England's long haul

PERTH, Dec 17 (Reuters) England made a bright start in their bid to save the third Ashes test against Australia by batting through today's opening session without losing a wicket.

Ian Bell and Alastair Cook survived a testing two-hour examination from Australia's bowlers to help the tourists reach lunch on 99 for one after they started the fourth day on 19-1.

Bell, who came to the crease late on Saturday when Andrew Strauss departed for a fourth-ball duck, was unbeaten on 54 with opener Cook not out 37.

Australia set England a world record run-chase of 557 to win the match but the tourists were more intent on survival than frantically chasing quick runs.

After losing the first two matches in Brisbane and Adelaide, England need to at least salvage a draw in Perth to keep the series alive heading into the fourth test in Melbourne on December 26.

Bell made amends for his first innings duck to post his third half-century of the series, mixing defence and aggression to strike five boundaries and two sixes.

With the Australians setting an attacking field in the pursuit of quick wickets, England's batsmen were able to get full value for any shots that beat the infield.

Bell twice hoisted Warne over the rope then raised his 50 off 83 balls in 131 minutes when he charged down the pitch to the Australian leg-spinner and smashed him to the cover boundary.

After failing to reach 50 in his five previous innings in the series, the left-handed Cook was content to play a more subdued role.

The Essex batsman, who turns 22 on Christmas Day, managed four fours in his 148-minute stay at the crease and had to survive a confident appeal for lbw from Warne.

England won the Ashes for the first time since 1987 with a 2-1 series victory over Australia on home soil last year.

REUTERS SAN RN1043