Alastair Cook and Joe Root give hosts strong platform

BBC Sport - Alastair Cook and Joe Root hit centuries as England laid down a strong platform on day one of the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

Cook’s 105 was his 29th Test hundred, putting him level with Sir Donald Bradman, and helped his side to 314-4.

Root, who put on 185 with Cook for the second wicket, was unbeaten on 141 at stumps, his 10th Test century.

Mohammad Amir took 2-63, including bowling Cook, but Pakistan toiled for much of the day on a flat pitch. England’s batting was much improved from their 75-run defeat in the opening Test at Lord’s, when they were dismissed for 272 and 207.

Much of the pre-match talk had surrounded their struggles against Yasir Shah, who took 10 wickets at Lord’s, but Cook and Root scored 78 off the leg-spinner. On a pitch expected to provide assistance to the spinners, Yasir conceded 111 runs off his 31 overs. Alex Hales’ departure in the seventh over - bowled by a seaming Amir delivery for 10 - meant England’s captain and new number three had to negotiate the recovery.