Strauss and Cook cement England's control

Lunch England 157 for 0 (Strauss 84*, Cook 51*) trail India 224 by 67 runs

England consolidated their strong position at Edgbaston as Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook took their opening stand to 157 on the second morning. Strauss moved along to 84 and Cook reached his first fifty of the series as the home side got to within 67 of India's under-par first-innings total of 224.

Play was delayed by 30 minutes because of rain, and India again failed to pose much of a threat despite the pitch still offering assistance, though the bowling was better than it was the previous evening. They didn't make the batsmen play often enough and there was a general lethargy in the field.

Praveen Kumar was the pick of the attack, probing away as he has throughout the series and finding movement, but the slow surface allowed Strauss and Cook plenty of time to adjust