The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
England batsmen get to Root of problem
Centuries for captain and vice-captain
Joe Root and Alastair Cook both delivered on their own team talks with crucial hundreds at Old Trafford yesterday.
Captain and vice-captain backed up their words, largely in a second-wicket stand of 185, as England started a fightback in the Investec series for a stumps total of 314 for four on day one of the second Test.
Each admitted the need to practice what he had preached, after England’s 75-run defeat at Lord’s in the first match of four.
Cook’s contribution was 105 before he was bowled by Mohammad Amir just before tea and Root finished unbeaten on 141 to keep England on course for a dominant total.
It was soon apparent they had a golden opportunity after Cook won the toss on a very good pitch – and they made no mistake.
Cook was rightly reluctant to crow afterwards about equalling Don Bradman by making his 29th Test century, but he did admit some gratification at coming up with his first hundred in nine months when England badly needed one.
On parity with the great Australian, he said: “I can’t really compare that, when he did it in half the games or even less . . . so it’s just nice to get past 28.
“It’s been a while since I scored a hundred for England. Also on the back of last week, certainly as captain you might talk a little bit more than the other players and sometimes it’s nice that the actions back up some of the words you’ve been saying.” His deputy agreed. “Especially after last week, the ways I got out weren’t the best, it was nice to speak about things within the group and then go out and deliver it,” said Root. “It’s one thing saying it, and (another) going out and proving (it) to the rest of your team-mates.”
Root’s 10th format century came after several occasions when he has, on his own admission, had only himself to blame for falling short.
“Looking back at last week, there were two quite reckless shots,” he added. “You want to learn and make sure you don’t make those mistakes again. I hope that can continue and it’s not a one-off.”
The 25-year-old was relieved to have made a significant start having failed to cash in on his recent opportunities.
Amir, the pick of Pakistan’s attack, received a predictable reminder of his spot-fixing past from a raucous Manchester crowd only too happy to contribute ironic shouts of ‘no-ball’ from their vantage point beyond the boundary.
Cook said: “I actually didn’t notice them calling no-balls – I suppose that’s probably quite a good sign that I’m thinking about more important things.
“I said at the beginning of the series that at some stage that might happen.
“There’s got to be some consequence a little bit . . . of what he did. The most important thing is the way both sides, so far in the series, have got on and played good cricket.”