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

WSJ: Stocks Off Highs After Report on EU Ratings

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

WSJ: Jobs News Tests Investors' Mettle

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.

BBC: England crash to 10-wicket defeat