The Ashes: First test ends in draw

Alastair Cook scored his first double century. Photo / Getty Images

Shell-shocked Australia must find a way to regroup ahead of Friday's second Ashes Test in Adelaide after their bowlers were embarrassed in the drawn first Test.

The merciless England had declared after lunch on Monday at 1-517 from 152 overs at the Gabba, their highest second-innings total in a Test match in Australia.

Set 297 to win from 41 overs, Australia eased their way to 1-107 from 26 overs before both captains agreed to end the match 15 overs early on a flat batting wicket.

Ricky Ponting was unbeaten on 51 with Shane Watson on 41 after Simon Katich was out for four.

England opener Alastair Cook had finished unbeaten on 235, his highest Test score, and Jonathan Trott hit 135 not out.

The Cook-Trott stand of 329 is the best partnership for England for any wicket in Australia, beating the 323 by Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes at the MCG in 1911-12.

Australia left-armer Mitchell Johnson's Test spot will come under review after his figures of 0-170, with Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris contenders to take the strike bowler's place.

It was Johnson's first wicket-less Test in the 39-match career of the 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year.

In his past five Tests, Johnson has taken 11 wickets at the inflated average of 58.90.

As both teams head to Adelaide on Tuesday, Australia are under pressure to find a winning formula and achieve victory in the five-match series to regain the urn.

Cook becomes only the fourth England batsman to score a double hundred in a Test in Australia.

Vice-captain Cook hit 27 fours and batted for 10-and-a-half hours, proving a point after coming to Australia with a Test average under 30 in 10 previous Ashes contests.

Trott notched his second century in two Tests against Australia.

Part-time spinner Marcus North (1-47) was Australia's only wicket-taker.

A clumsy Australian side dropped three catches on Sunday and two more on Monday.

England's fightback with the bat came after Australia took a handsome 221-run advantage on the first innings.

Mike Hussey (195) and Brad Haddin (136) shared a 307-run partnership for the sixth wicket in Australia's 481 in reply to England's 260 which included a hat-trick from Peter Siddle (6-54).

Cook was named man of the match.

Strauss said things had looked "quite bleak" for England halfway through the game before their batting heroics in the second innings.

"Alastair Cook, one of the best hundreds I've seen by an England player," Strauss said.

"We're going to take a lot out of this Test match and we're looking forward to Adelaide."

Ponting said the match had been dominated by the bat and said his bowlers needed to lift.

"There are some concerns for sure. I don't think we bowled as well as we could in their second innings," he said.

"We know we can do better and we know we can improve. I'm sure we'll get some pretty good batting conditions this week as well."

- AAP