"The market two months ago was fearing a double dip, " said Michael Strauss, chief economist and chief investment strategist at Commonfund in Wilton, Conn.

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Michael Strauss, chief investment strategist at Commonfund, in Wilton, Conn.

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Cook was there, and batting well, but he had already seen Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan fall to a fired-up Makhaya Ntini on Sunday evening.

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The absence of big hitters, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff aside, meant the orthodox approach of the likes of Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell was exposed.

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There is precedent for England players being allowed to put family matters first, with Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior all returning home from tours in recent years.

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Strauss made first-innings centurion Michael Hill his third career victim, but Clint McKay then helped himself to a career-best 58 not out and Jayde Herrick was unbeaten on 40 at the close.

BBC: Ashes: England seamers struggle against Victoria

The evidence could be air-tight, but in cases from the Michael Jackson child molestation prosecution to the Dominique Strauss-Kahn rape prosecution, evidence that convinced prosecutors disintegrated in the face of vigorous defense advocacy.

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But it was the gentle medium pace of Paul Collingwood that accounted for Ryan Carters, Alex Keath and Matthew Wade, while spinner Monty Panesar weighed in with two wickets and even skipper Strauss enjoyed success with the ball as he trapped Michael Hill leg before wicket.

BBC: Ashes: England seamers struggle against Victoria