Captain Cook leads from the front on day one
Mar 12 2010 - 08:58:18
Alastair Cook became the fourth England captain to hit a century in his first Test innings in the job, with a commanding 113 not out against Bangladesh.
Cook led the team out for the first Test as his country's 79th skipper and proceeded to ease his way to three figures, following in the footsteps of Archie McLaren, Allan Lamb and Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen himself had endured a nightmare run going into the game but looked unfazed as he reached tea unbeaten on 51 with the tourists 243 for two as home captain Shakib Al Hasan was left to rue a leftfield decision to field first having won the toss.
Michael Carberry, one of two England debutants alongside Steven Finn, quickly found his stride, dispatching Rubel Hossain for three boundaries in the fourth over, the last of which was a flawless straight drive.
Two more boundaries followed in quick succession for Carberry, both off the outside edge, as the home seamers began to leak early runs. Shakib swiftly turned to his own left-arm spin to stem the flow but was hoisted by Cook high over midwicket for six in only his second over.
Mahmudullah was distraught to see wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim drop a regulation catch off Carberry, but he had to wait just an over to get his man, winning a straightforward lbw verdict as Carberry (30) missed a sweep.
New batsman Jonathan Trott played conservatively to see his way to lunch and the number three was in more attacking form after the break, but he was unfortunate to be given out caught behind for 39 by umpire Tony Hill when a Rubel bouncer which seemed to come straight off the batsman's helmet.
The wicket brought the under-pressure Pietersen to the middle, with Abdur Razzak ready to probe his supposed weakness against left-arm spin.
But Pietersen and Cook continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, with a sweep from the former racing away to fine leg to ease the innings past 200.
Cook, though, was not to be outdone and heaved Mahmudullah for a second maximum over mid-wicket to bring up his century in style. The rotating cast of spinners looked short of responses as the runs continued to come, Pietersen hitting down the ground to bring up a 61-ball 50 before tea.