England on the Trott in season opener

Jonathan Trott’s second Test century left England in a strong position on the first day of their series opener against Bangladesh at Lord’s on Thursday.

England were 362 for four at close with Trott unbeaten on 175, his second successive Test century in England to go with the 119 he scored in the second innings of his debut against Australia at the Oval last year.

Debutant Eoin Morgan, included in place of the injured Paul Collingwood, was unbeaten on 40 as he shared an unbroken 104-run partnership with Trott who also put on 181 for the second wicket with England captain Andrew Strauss (83).

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and fielded, thereby sparing his side the challenge of batting in overcast conditions on the opening morning of this two-Test series. But as the sun broke through at Lord’s, it soon became clear Bangladesh’s pace bowlers were not quick enough to trouble the England second-wicket pair on a good pitch and a first day wicket offered little encouragement for the visitors’ spin bowlers.

In such circumstances, batting was as much about the batsmen’s ability to keep their concentration as anything else.

England resumed after lunch on 105 for one with Strauss 40 not out and Trott unbeaten on exactly fifty. It was not long before Strauss reached his half-century, off 86 balls with a six and four fours.

Strauss, playing his first England match for several months after resting from the tour of Bangladesh and missing out on the World Twenty20, as he no longer plays that form of the game, was in sight of his fifth century in 14 Tests at his Middlesex home ground when he gave his wicket away.

A ball after surviving an appeal for a catch at slip, Strauss bottom edged a cut into his stumps against off-spinner Mahmudullah, in only the bowler’s second over of the match, to end a 129 ball innings with a six and six fours.

Trott though completed his century with his 12th boundary, a cover-drive off seamer Rubel Hossain, in 133 balls in just over three hours at the crease.

England, lost just one wicket before lunch when Alastair Cook was lbw to Shahadat Hossain for seven. Pietersen, like Trott born in South Africa, looked in excellent touch following his player of the series role in England’s World Twenty20 triumph in the Caribbean this month.

But, having struck three boundaries, he was bowled between bat and pad by the left-arm spin of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan to leave England 227 for three. However, Morgan, who shone in the West Indies, ensured the tourists completed a miserable day in the field.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 28th, 2010.