Cook sublime as Tigers toil

England captain joins famous list as tourists dominate in first Test

Cook: Making history

Alastair Cook became the fifth player to score a century in his first Test in charge of England as the tourists dominated the opening day against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

The Essex batsman batted throughout the day after his side was surprisingly asked to bat first by Shakib Al Hasan, to finish on 158 as England reached 374 for three at the close of play.

Cook was the mainstay of the innings as he added 170 with the back-to-form Kevin Pietersen, who was nevertheless dismissed one run short of a 17th Test century in the final session.

Michael Carberry, making his Test debut alongside paceman Steven Finn, strode out with Cook at the top of the order and quickly looked at home, dispatching Rubel Hossain for three boundaries in the fourth over, the last of which was a flawless straight drive.

Two more streaky fours followed soon afterwards and although spinner Shakib brought himself on in an attempt to stem the flow of runs, Cook made him pay for his leftfield decision at the toss by launching him into the midwicket stands.

Distraught

But Mahmudullah found a testing line early on in his spell and was distraught to see wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim drop a regulation catch off Carberry.

However, he had to wait just an over to get his man, winning a straightforward lbw verdict as Carberry missed an attempted sweep.

By then Cook had already taken control of the 72-run opening stand and continued to lead the way after Jonathan Trott's arrival.

The Tigers grew in confidence after the breakthrough and Trott soon had four men in close catching positions against Shakib, though he played conservatively to see his way to lunch with the tourists on 104 for one.

The number three was in more attacking form after the break, punching Shahadat Hossain to the ropes at third man in his first over back and then crunching him through the covers for four more.

Cook - who passed his half-century just before lunch off 84 balls - was looking nerveless at the other end and he too milked Shahadat, pulling a short one to long leg before drilling him through extra-cover when he overpitched.

Pressure

But the home side got their first break when umpire Tony Hill surprisingly gave Trott out caught behind for 39 despite a bouncer from Rubel appearing to glance off the helmet, rather than the edge.

The wicket brought the under-pressure Pietersen to the middle, with Abdur Razzak ready to probe his supposed weakness against left-arm spin.

And while the Hampshire batsman played his way back into form with a series of nudges increasingly punctuated by smooth boundaries, Cook continued to dominate the bowling with his another maximum coming off Mahmudullah, his second of the innings doubling his entire career tally in Tests.

Pietersen was looking increasingly comfortable as he passed fifty off 61 balls with eight fours, shortly after Cook had joined Archie McLaren, Allan Lamb, Andrew Strauss and Pietersen in reaching three figures in his first Test as England captain - his 11th in all.

The left-hander's flawless knock came off 148 deliveries with nine fours as well as his two maximums, but there was still work for he and Pietersen to do and they set about it with relish.

Shakib rotated his spinners with little effect and Pietersen moved towards his century by confidently hitting the captain back over his head for a six and two fours in the same over.

Disappointing

Shakib promptly removed himself from the attack and this time the move paid off, left-arm spinner Razzak finally getting the breakthrough by spinning one past Pietersen's defence, turning the batsman square in the process.

It was a disappointing end to the South African-born batsman's resurrection after he had failed to pass 23 on the current tour, but the innings will give confidence to he and the rest of middle-order for the remainder of it.

Cook went serenely on his way and passed 150 despite the arrival of the second new ball, passing another landmark off 222 balls having added a further six boundaries.

Paul Collingwood ensured there would be no late wobble as the sun fell low in the sky, confidently striking five boundaries as he reached 32 not out off 40 deliveries at stumps on a day the home captain would rather forget.

Collingwood and Cook had already put on 55 for the fourth wicket with more of the same anticipated for Saturday.