Cook Stars But England XI Stutter

Alastair Cook made an impressive century, but he lacked support.

Birmingham: Alastair Cook was a contented man after making a century as he alone among England's batsmen seized the chance on Wednesday for useful match practice ahead of next week's first Ashes Test.

The Essex left-handed opener's 124 was the centrepiece of England's disappointing 290 for eight declared against Warwickshire here at Edgbaston on the first day of their specially arranged three-day warm-up match.

But no other England batsman was able to pass fifty in the first innings of their final fixture before the first Test against Australia starts a week on Wednesday in Cardiff.

England lost five wickets for 77 runs and Warwickshire, without several members of their first-choice bowling attack, were 31 for one at stumps.

Cook said his near four-hour innings, featuring 21 boundaries, had been just what he needed.

"If this game wasn't on, Essex don't have a first-class game this week, so I would've had no practice," the 24-year-old Cook said.

"You can have as many throwdowns as you want, but being in the middle is far better practice. It is good to get together this week with such an important series coming up.

"Warwickshire were quite intense, but for them it's a great chance to play against England. A couple of performances from players, with the media attention, it pushes your name forward."

Cook added that England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, disciplined for missing the team bus during the squad's trip to World War I battlefields in Belgium last weekend, had apologised to his colleagues.

"It's been fine," Cook said. "He made a mistake, he said he's sorry, we look to move on as a team. It's nice that he is honest and you could see the regret in his face for what he's caused."

Brief Score: Warwickshire 31 for 1 (Frost 3*, Trott 18*) trail England XI 290 for 8 declared (Cook 124, Tahir 3-54) by 259 runs.