England's batsmen helped to ensure a draw in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Alastair Cook struck an unbeaten 235 and Jonathan Trott added 135 not out to help England reach 517 for one in their second innings, setting the hosts a nominal target of 297.

Australia were 107 for one when the captains shook hands on a high-scoring draw.

Cook's score was a career-best innings, while Trott was exactly 100 runs behind him when Andrew Strauss decided it was time for his side to bowl again.

Cook, who on Sunday contributed to England's ground-record opening stand with his captain, ploughed mercilessly on to the highest individual score at this venue - usurping the great Sir Donald Bradman - as he and Trott made a mockery of the perilous starting position of the tourists' second innings.

By tea, Australia had lost Simon Katich, fencing a catch to Strauss at slip off Stuart Broad.

A further scare for the hosts came when Paul Collingwood dropped a regulation chance at slip after Graeme Swann found Shane Watson's outside edge, but there were no further losses on the way to the early close as home captain Ricky Ponting reached an unbeaten 51 at a run a ball.

This is only the second time in England's history the top three batsmen have reached three figures in the same innings, the previous instance courtesy of Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond in 1924.

It is a unique Ashes achievement for a team who had set out late on the third day needing 221 runs just to make their hosts bat again and, according to many experts, with scant chance of escaping Brisbane at 0-0.

Cook and Trott began a sunny morning with a partnership of 121 already under their belts - and then piled on another 208 in just 51 overs. Australia were in the field for more than four sessions, and long before the end of their torment were looking incapable of helping themselves.