Ton-up Cook punishes India

Alastair Cook’s 19th Test hundred propelled England into a first innings lead against India on the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston here on Wednesday.

England were 319 for two a lead of 95 runs at tea.

Left-handed opener Cook was 129 not out and Kevin Pietersen 36 not out as England pursued a win that would give them both an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the four-Test series and see them replace India at the top of the ICC’s Test Championship table.

Only five players - Walter Hammond (22), Colin Cowdrey (22), Geoff Boycott (22), Ken Barrington (20) and Cook’s mentor Graham Gooch (20) have now made more Test centuries for England than the 26-year-old Essex opener, currently playing in his 71st match at this level.

AFP