England paceman Stuart Broad won his race to be fit for the first Test against Bangladesh, as the tourists took control of the opening day in Chittagong.
Broad, who missed the third and final One-Day International and the subsequent three-day match after suffering with back problems, bowled impressively and without pain in the nets on Thursday and was given the OK to play in a last minute decision on Friday morning.
And it looks like the fast bowler will have at least another full day’s rest before being called into action, as England’s batsmen made Bangladesh pay for giving them first use of a flat pitch.
The hosts are yet to win a Test at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and that run appears likely to continue as Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan somewhat strangely opted to field after winning the toss.
Opening batsman Alastair Cook became only the fifth player in history to score a hundred in his first Test as England captain, as he plundered 158 not out, while another one of those elite five, Kevin Pietersen, showed a welcome return to form with 99.
England’s injury woes in the bowling department meant that Middlesex quick Steven Finn was handed his England debut, while fellow debutant Michael Carberry opened the batting with Cook.
Carberry failed to take full advantage of a benign surface though as he fell lbw to Mahmudullah on 30, having been dropped at the wicket off the same bowler moments earlier.
Carberry’s dismissal brought Jonathan Trott to the crease and he will consider himself very unfortunate, as he was on the receiving end of a poor umpiring decision after making 39.
A sharp bouncer from Rubel Hossain caught Trott on the helmet as he attempted to hook and the England number three was given out caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim.
That brought Pietersen to the crease, who shrugged off his recent worrying lack of runs to put on 170 for the third wicket with Cook before being bowled by Abdur Razzak one short of his century.
Cook remained in dominant from at the other end, hitting 14 fours and two sixes, while Paul Collingwood hit a brisk 32 not out to leave England in control at 374-3 at stumps.
Keep up to date with England's tour of Bangladesh at ECB.co.uk
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