1st Test: Alastair Cook's gritty 70 helps England reach 184

Former Test captain Alastair Cook played a superb knock and smashed a gritty 70 as England were165 for five at tea on the first day of the opening test against Pakistan at Lord's on Thursday.

Playing in a record-equalling 153rd consecutive test, Cook batted fluently. But wickets tumbled around him after England captain Joe Root had won the toss in overcast conditions at the home of cricket.

Mark Stoneman, Root and Dawid Malan fell cheaply to the Pakistan seamers in the morning, leaving England struggling at 43 for three before Cook and Jonny Bairstow steadied the innings with a partnership of 57.

Bairstow, however, was bowled after lunch for 27 by a fine delivery from 

Faheem Ashraf and Cook's three-hour vigil ended when Mohammad Amir produced an excellent ball that clipped his off stump.

Ben Stokes unfurled a few trademark attacking strokes to reach 36 not out at the tea interval with Jos Buttler on 13, but England have plenty of work to do as they look to move on from a heavy Ashes defeat in Australia and a rare loss to New Zealand.

Pakistan had dominated the first session of the two-match series.

Root, who could have been run out before he had scored, played carefully to get to four before driving rashly at a wide ball from Hasan Ali and nicking a catch to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

But Cook's hopes of a 33rd test century ended when he failed to get fully forward to a good-length delivery from Amir, leaving the left-hander to trudge slowly back to the pavilion to a standing ovation.