"Feed the snake."

A great day at the cricket today as England batted first at the start of the Second Test Match v Pakistan, in Manchester. Alastair Cook scored a magnificent century, his 29th in Test Cricket, equalling the number scored by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman.

As always at big cricket matches, the crowd are almost as entertaining as the cricketers.  A popular game on the terraces is to construct a "beer snake" out of used plastic beer glasses (of which, by the afternoon, there are many.) Other sights today included a Mariachi Band, some very impressive school children playing Kwik Cricket during the lunch interval, striped blazers and the Yorkshire Tea Band, during the tea interval, of course.

Joe Root played well too, ending the day with 141 not out.