Cricket latest: Double centurion Cook puts England in control against India

Eoin Morgan was the main aggressor, combining quickly-taken singles with some fine off-side strokeplay before being dismissed for 104.

The Irish-born batsman’s second Test century brightened a hitherto rather dour third day, before he fell to the off-spin of Suresh Raina.

That dismissal sparked the sort of lower middle-order collapse which would have been reminiscent of earlier England sides were it not for the volume of runs already on the board.

Ravi Bopara, deputising for the injured Jonathan Trott, was plumb lbw to a drifting legbreak from Amit Mishra after scoring just seven.

Given that the home side were already 596-4 when he arrived at the crease, Bopara was in something of a ‘no-win’ situation for a batsman looking to prove his Test credentials, but his scrappy cameo will provide more ammunition to those who doubt his powers of concentration.

Matt Prior soon followed the Essex batsman back to the dressing room when Tendulkar caught a top-edged slog-sweep off the bowling of Mishra, who clearly rather prefers bowling to right-handers.

The wicket-keeper had added just five to the total before the Little Master’s sharp take.

All the while, Alastair Cook (266 not out) was paragon of composure as partners came and went, accumulating runs with a minimum of fuss. Spinners were glanced to leg or cut to the deep for singles, while the ailing seam attack was largely left alone as deliveries sailed well wide of the off stump.

The double-centurion was joined by Tim Bresnan, who went to tea unbeaten and untroubled on 19. Following his 91 in the last Test, the Yorkshireman will be looking to further his claim to being a genuine all-rounder.

An interesting session was only marred by a ridiculous 20-minute delay for bad light which irritated the 25,000-strong crowd a great deal, particularly considering two spinners were operating at the time.