Captain Cook discovers form to put England in command

ALASTAIR Cook celebrated his first day as England's Test captain with a masterful unbeaten 158, while Kevin Pietersen was out for 99 as the tourists took complete command on day one of the first Test.

Cook's 11th Test hundred was a knock of style and composure and saw him convincingly outstrip Andrew Strauss' mark of 128, the previous best by an England captain in their maiden outing.

Cook's innings, which formed part of a 170-run stand with Pietersen, helped his side coast to stumps at 374 for three.

Pietersen will have been pleased to have ended a dismal run of form on tour but was no doubt frustrated to fall one short of a ton and again to slow left-armer.

Home captain Shakib Al Hasan, meanwhile, was left to rue a poor decision to field first having won the toss.

Michael Carberry, one of two England debutants alongside Steven Finn, started his international career in a flurry of boundaries but could not last the distance. The Hampshire opener dispatched Rubel Hossain for three fours in the fourth over, with two more off the outside edge soon after.

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. Naeem Islam beat the captain when he attempted to repeat the shot but, that aside, England progressed serenely, with successive Cook fours off Rubel bringing up the fifty.

Mahmudullah found a testing line early on and snared Carberry lbw moments after Mushfiqur Rahim had spilled a regulation catch to reprieve him.

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 home team 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.

The No 3 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 was 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.

Umpire Tony Hill, presumably sensing an edge, judged Trott caught behind for 39 after a Rubel bouncer that seemed to come straight off the batsman's helmet. The disgruntled look on Trott's face as the decision was given also supported that view.

Cook heaved Mahmudullah for a second maximum over mid-wicket to bring up his 11th Test century in style. Remarkably Cook had only ever hit two Test sixes before yesterday's game.

There was some relief for the hosts when Razzak found a way through Pietersen's defences just a single short of r his century.

Cook was going nowhere, though, and was celebrating another landmark when his consistent ability to work the ball on both sides of the wicket saw him past 150. Paul Collingwood was fifth man in and immediately set rattled up 32 runs in 40 balls.

Cook reached the close having faced 244 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes to his name. He resumes this morning two runs short of his Test best and admitted his first day at the helm could not have been sweeter. "It's what dreams are made of," he said.