England vs Pakistan: Alastair Cook and Joe Root pass centuries before skipper is bowled on stroke of tea

England 210-2

Alastair Cook celebrates his century before falling for 105 (Getty)

Alastair Cook marked his 50th Test as England captain with his 29th century in the format, and first for nine months, before falling on the stroke of tea.

Cook (105) and Joe Root (87 not out) put England in a highly advantageous position on a teatime 210 for two on day one of the second Investec Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

They were cashing in on a very good pitch, of even pace and bounce save for Cook's dismissal, after the home captain won the toss as the hosts set out to level the series following their defeat at Lord's.

Mohammad Amir reacts after a close call during the first innings (Getty)

Cook, who had not reached three figures since his tour-de-force 263 against these same opponents in Abu Dhabi 20 innings ago last October, did so this time from 157 balls having hit 14 fours.

Root, meanwhile, was taking few chances at the other end - at pains apparently to cut out the errors which have often interrupted his progress of late and left him without an international hundred so far this summer.

Both nonetheless achieved a level of comfort and command of the attack which proved too much for England at HQ, in a stand of 185.

Pakistan ran through their frontline options of three left-arm seamers and their Lord's match-winner Yasir Shah before lunch, with only Mohammad Amir successful.

Alastair Cook watches on after hitting a shot during the first innings against Pakistan (Getty)

Cook had an early moment of fortune, edging the final ball of Amir's first over at catchable height through a vacant fourth slip to double his score.

Amir did work over Cook's opening partner Alex Hales, though, and proved too good for him.

A series of outswingers included one squirted for four through gully's fingertips before, in the same over, Amir brought one back brilliantly to beat Hales' defence and knock out off stump.

Root then began imperiously with a straight drive for four off Rahat Ali third ball, quickly closed on Cook and, shortly after lunch, narrowly beat him to 50.

Joe Root on his way to passing 100 in the second Test against Pakistan (Getty)

Cook has rarely been more fluent in his record-breaking career, though, and soon established a lead on his partner again - leaning heavily on his favoured cut shot but also picking up boundaries with check-drives poked down the ground off both pace and spin.

Yasir's threat was minimised, albeit with some turn available to him even at an early stage, and there was little help for the seamers.

England's second-wicket pair were not about to pass up their wonderful opportunity for a foothold back in the series.

Amir, meanwhile, had to run the gauntlet of local humour by the time he got into his third spell as the Old Trafford crowd demonstrated their memory of his spot-fixing past with a succession of ironic 'no-ball' calls from the temporary stand square of the wicket. He did not overstep once, in fact.

Joe Root celebrates reaching his tenth career Test century (Getty)

Cook completed his hundred - meaning he now has as many Test tons as Australian great Don Bradman - with a two clipped wide of mid-on off Amir.

He celebrated his milestone with uncharacteristic gestures including pumping his fist as he passed the striker's stumps for the telling second run and cupping his ear to the crowd's cheers.

But Amir got his revenge on the stroke of tea, when Cook went back to a length ball which kept slightly low and got an under-edge on to his stumps.

PA