Manchester: After a thumping 75 runs loss at lords, it was time to move to Manchester for the second Test. England made two changes to the side bringing in James Anderson and Ben Stokes in place of Jake Ball and Steven Finn. Pakistan decided to play with an unchanged side. Skipper Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat first.

Not the best of the starts for England as Alex Hales was knocked off by an in-swinging delivery by Amir in the seventh over of the game. Cook and Joe Root stabled the innings and scored risk free runs and made sure they didn't lose any further wickets and score read 95 for 1 at lunch.

Just after lunch, Root brought up his fifty and soon Cook followed him. Both players looked more solid after bringing up their half centuries. They brought up 150 runs stand soon after that between them. Pakistani bowling attack looked down and dusted. In the 52nd over Cook brought up his 29th Test century equalising Sir Don Bradman's record. Things were getting from bad to worse but just before the tea Amir cleaned up Cook, with England’s score at 210.

After tea, James Vince was dropped by Younis Khan at first slip but he could only add at 12 to his tally and was dismissed by Rahat Ali for only 18. Root continued his good form and brought up his 10th century. Gary Ballance and Root steadied the innings and added 73 for the fourth wicket before the former was dismissed at the closing moments of the day by Rahat Ali.

After the early loss of Hales, the English batsman showed great composure and class and stabilised the innings. With 314/4 at the end of the day's play, England stand in a good position to post a huge first innings total. It would be more interesting to see how Pakistani bowlers bounce back on Day 2.

BY Advitya Bahl