England in command

Cricket: Captain leads from the front as hosts pile on runs on opening day

Alastair Cook was delighted to lead from the front as a second-wicket stand of 185 with fellow centurion Joe Root put England in charge on day one of the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

England’s batsmen shouldered much of the blame for a 75-run defeat in the series opener at Lord’s last week, but the tormentor-in-chief on that occasion – leg-spinner Yasir Shah – returned figures of none for 111 from 31 overs in Manchester.

Cook hit 105, his 29th Test century taking him level with Australian great Don Bradman, before falling to one which kept low from Mohammad Amir and Root was unbeaten on 141 as England reached stumps on 314 for four.

“I thought we played at a better tempo today,” the England captain Cook told Sky Sports.

“It looked like more of a Test-match tempo and we still scored at a good rate.

“That’s what’s pleasing as a captain – you talk about things and to go out and do it straight away as a batting unit I thought was really impressive.

“As a captain you tend to talk a bit more about things and I’ve talked about individual responsibility, so when you say a few things it’s nice to back it up.”

Getty. Alastair Cook acknowledges the crowd after reaching his century.