Cook serves up century treat

Alastair Cook drives as Matt Prior looks on © Getty Images

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England batsman Alastair Cook buried the frustrations of his Ashes winter to open the new season in style with a brilliant 142 for the MCC against county champions Sussex.

Cook struck 18 fours and one six and shared in century partnerships with Owais Shah (47) and Alex Loudon (53) as the MCC reached 332 for six at the close of play on day one at Lord’s.

After an impressive start to his international career, Cook averaged just 27.60 in Australia as England slumped to a 5-0 series defeat.

But with Michael Vaughan fit again and Marcus Trescothick looking to regain his place in the England side, Cook’s fluid innings was a timely statement of intent ahead of another busy international summer.

The MCC lost Nick Compton to James Kirtley in the opening over but recovered well as Cook raced to a 66-ball half-century and Shah opened up to reach 47 after a cautious beginning.

The pair put on 132 for the second wicket before Shah pushed forward to a teasing outswinger from Kirtley and was caught behind.

Kirtley and Robin Martin-Jenkins were the pick of the Sussex attack, claiming two wickets apiece as they got the ball to move away down the Lord’s slope.

But Sussex could not apply the pressure from both ends.

Luke Wright went for 96 from 19 overs and Ollie Rayner 50 from 15 as Cook and Loudon upped the pace after lunch to build a stand of 115.

Cook punished the short delivery emphatically and brought up his 17th first-class century from 225 deliveries with a cover drive guided supremely to the boundary.

Sussex briefly pegged the MCC back with three wickets for 13 runs as Martin-Jenkins trapped Loudon leg before wicket and Cook eventually fell, chasing a wide one from Wright to be caught behind.

Zoheb Sharif then looped a top-edge to mid-wicket but Alex Gidman scored a quick 35 and Worcestershire wicket-keeper Steven Davies finished the day on 29 not out.