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Third Test Day One (close): India 224 (MS Dhoni 77, Broad 4-53), England 456-3 (Cook 182* Strauss 87, Pietersen 63). England lead by 232 runs.England's domination of India continued apace at Edgbaston on day two of the Third Test as Alastair Cook's sublime unbeaten hundred helped put England in total control.
If there was any lingering doubts about England's superiority in this Test series then they were well and truly dispelled in Birmingham as Andrew Strauss's side marched on towards what looks to be an overwhelmingly commanding position.
After bowling India out for 224 on the first day and finising on 84-0 overnight, Strauss and Cook truly twisted the knife against India's toothless attack.
MS Dhoni's side have looked sluggish and unfit throughout this series and they were again off the pace as England never looked troubled.
England v India Scorecard
Firstly Strauss brought up his half-century before Cook joined him shortly later and the England captain seemed a certainty for a century until Amit Mishra bowled him for 87.
But the opening stand had been worth an impressive 186 and it was the platform England needed to kick on.
Cook had no trouble reaching his 19th Test century off 213 balls while Ian Bell's sprightly 34 also kept up the momentum before he was bowled by Praveen Kumar- but only after Rahul Dravid had dropped him at slip to sum India's day up.
Bell's dismissal brought Kevin Pietersen to the crease and he was in no mood to miss out against India's sapped attack.
India looked weary and lacked a bowling plan and Cook and Pietersen royally cashed in as Cook raced to 150 while Pietersen also brought up and attractive half-century with no trouble at all.
However, Pietersen was then adjudged to be LBW off Kumar for 63 after putting on 122 with.
Eoin Morgan then came in and was happy to play second fiddle to Cook who was becoming increasingly dominant.
India faded away towards the end as Sreesanth and then Dravid dropped simple catches off Morgan while Cook marched serenely on as England's lead stretched to over 200 and over the horizon.
REACTION:
Cook was delighted with England's efforts but refused to take all the praise:
"We did talk about batting all day today. We don't think the wicket is going to get any better so we got some important runs today. Everyone played really well and it is a shame that Straussy fell a little bit short of what would have been a well deserved hundred. I felt like I owed the team a bit to be honest so I'm pleased with that."
On his own recent poor form:
"I've been disappointed but not panicking really. Luckily I have come in and got some runs. The first session swung around a bit so it was about grinding it out and putting miles on their legs and that is what we did."
On the spin potential in the wicket:
"It did spin today and I think it will dry out more and more as the game goes on so it is important that we crack on tomorrow."
On when England will declare:
"Well we have three days left and we have some stroke players to come and if we can play like we have done throughout the series then we can put some pressure on."
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Cook's 19th Test hundred was another remarkable moment in a career that is already crammed full of them. A clip off the legs brought up the ton as Cook kicked on and made India pay.
PLAY OF THE DAY: When Dravid - Test cricket's leading ever slip catcher - dropped Bell it underlined all that was wrong with India. When he then dropped Morgan in the last over of the day it proved that India's problems are terminal.
WHAT IT MEANS: It means England are on the verge of being awarded for 18 months of brilliance with the world number one spot. Only a miracle can save India in this Test match and those are thin on the ground in Test cricket.
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