But it was a different story at Old Trafford, where large numbers of fans greeted his every delivery with loud chants of “no-ball” on a day that saw England finish in a commanding position on 314 for four thanks to centuries from Cook and Joe Root.
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By contrast Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who took 10 wickets at Lords, had tea figures of none for 69 in 18 overs.
Pakistan are now leading the four-match Test series 1-0 following their historic 75-run win over England in the opening match at Lord’s.
More signficantly, this was Cook’s first century in 20 Test innings since his monumental 263 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in October.
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.
“I thought we played at a better tempo”.
On return to Test cricket, it was certain that Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir will not only have to face the England batsmen but the crowd as well.
But three balls later, having repeatedly moved the ball away from Hales, Amir skilfully swung the ball back into the right-handed opener and knocked over his middle and off stumps.
2 – Only two captains, Mike Atherton (54) and Michael Vaughan (51) have captained England in more Tests than Cook, who is skipper for the 50th time in Tests.
Earlier Cook saw Misbah-ul-Haq call incorrectly at the toss, and, knowing that England had not lost in 12 home Tests since 2014 when winning the toss and batting first, gleefully chose to send Pakistan into the field.
After losing his opening partner Alex Hales early, the southpaw teamed up with Joe Root to stitch a 185-run partnership for the 2nd wicket.
“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 (hundreds)”, said Cook, in his 131st Test compared to Bradman’s 52.
That became the last delivery before tea, with England 210 for two at the interval.
James Vince played some well-timed strokes on his way to 18 but, as so often before in his fledgling test career, he was undone by a full ball outside off stump and edged Rahat Ali to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
But Root was rewarded for his skill and patience when his 14th four, an on-drive off Yasir Shah, took him to his hundred from 167 balls.
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Rahat had Ballance clean bowled with the second new ball before Chris Woakes and Root carried England to 314.
