However, in an incident that mirrored Matt Prior's moment of good fortune in Melbourne, Cook was urged to remain at the wicket by umpire Bowden while the Aussies rushed to congratulate Beer and the catcher, Hilfenhaus.
Croft may have done more damage had Pettini not been put down on 22 and 34, but the Essex captain made the most of his good fortune and went on to rebuild the innings in a stand of 64 with Matt Walker (25).