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London - Jonathan Trott scored an unbeaten 175 Thursday on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh as England reached 362-4, exploiting a flat Lord's wicket and an innocuous bowling attack.
The South African-born Trott, who played for the land of his birth at schoolboy level, recorded the second century and highest score of his England career. The first century was on debut against Australia last year.
England captain Andrew Strauss, who has taken a break from the game for the past six months, returned and scored 83 as he and Trott put on 181 after Bangladesh put England in to bat.
There were disappointments for several England batsmen. Opener Alastair Cook fell for just 7 when he was trapped leg before wicket, big-hitting Kevin Pietersen sparkled briefly before falling to a rash shot on 18, and Ian Bell stumbled his way to 17 before misjudging a ball and was bowled.
Trott's near six-hour-long innings was a lesson in patience. His first 50 took 75 balls, his second just 58 but he became becalmed after tea and his third 50 took 110 balls.
Coming on to bat with the score on 7-1, Trott cover drove imperiously in the first two sessions, joined by Strauss, who hit the only six of the day.
Test debutant Eoin Morgan's arrival at the crease breathed some life into the England innings as the Ireland-born, limited-overs specialist introduced variations like a reverse sweep into the batting. Morgan was not out 40 at the close as he and Trott put on 104 for the fifth wicket.
Cook was stranded leg before wicket by Shahadat Hossain as the game began in damp and overcast conditions. That was the only success of the morning for Bangladesh as favorable conditions for bowlers disappeared and the wicket flattened out.
Television replays showed the ball that dismissed Cook would have gone over the stumps.
The referral system that is supposed to be used in all tests _ and which would have saved Cook _ is not being used at Lord's because of a dispute between English cricket authorities and the host broadcaster, which is baulking at paying for the extra cameras needed to allow officials to give accurate referral decisions.
Strauss batted cautiously at first but hit a six and a four to square leg in the eighth over off the unthreatening seam bowling of Robiul Islam.
In the afternoon session, Strauss and Trott cruised at more than four runs an over and Strauss appeared set for his 19th test century until he played on backing away from the innocuous spin of Mahmudullah. Bangladesh had appealed loudly for a catch behind from the previous ball.
Umpire Billy Bowden ruled correctly that the ball struck Strauss' arm but he was dismissed from the next ball for 83.
Soon afterwards Trott reached his century with one of many cover drives, reaching three figures from 133 balls and scoring 12 fours. Pietersen, who returned to his aggressive best in the World Twenty20 which England won this month, again looked impressive, but was clean bowled by captain Shakib Al Hassan swinging wildly.
Bell limped along before he played around a Rubel Hossain delivery that knocked over his off stump, but Trott and Morgan then lifted England into a strong position.
