Alastair Cook spent valuable time batting ahead of the Test series with India, making an unbeaten century for the second-string England Lions on the first day of their match against India A at Worcester on Monday.

It was the first time Cook, given a chance to warm up with the Lions during a break in the first-class County Championship, had reached three figures this year. The 33-year-old left-handed opener, England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, completed his hundred in 173 balls and at stumps had moved on to 154 not out in a total of 310 for two.