Cook backs 100-up Strauss for ton

ALASTAIR COOK makes history alongside Andrew Strauss tomorrow, convinced his captain is on the brink of another ton.

Cook and Strauss will become the first England pair — and only the fourth from all countries — to open the innings together 100 times in Test cricket.

Yet Strauss reaches the landmark in desperate need of runs after registering just one Test century in 30 months.

But, as England aim to bounce back against Pakistan following their 10-wicket First Test thrashing in Dubai, Cook said: "I haven't seen Straussy hit the ball better for a long time.

"He is moving as well as ever and striking the ball superbly. He's looked really good on this tour so I'm not sure why he hasn't made a hundred since Brisbane in 2010."

ENGLAND (likely): Strauss (c), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Morgan, Prior (wkt), Broad, Swann, Tremlett, Anderson.

PAKISTAN (likely): Hafeez, T Umar, A Ali, Y Khan, Misbah (c), Shafiq, A Akmal (wkt), Rehman, U Gul, Ajmal, Cheema.