Pakistan are begging for a wicket tonight with this second new ball, else a long day in the dirt awaits them tomorrow. The way things are going, they will eventually be replying to an England total of 500+. Still dark, but not dark enough to go off. On the England balcony, Paul Farbrace is having a giggle, but James Vince looks like he's been to a funeral. 

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

That's Gary Ballance's best shot since coming back into the England side.

Yep, good from Ballance, taking four from the sort of delivery that used to get him nicking off. Pushed full by Rahat Ali, gently swinging away, leftie Ballance crunching a drive dead square for four. All together now... "the new ball travels faster off the bat".

Joe Wills: If Cookie Monster's throwing a sickie I hope his rucksack is not the same one he takes his sarnies in with. Could be the tell.

birch1966: Update news flash: Cookie Monster has been identified as Ian Bell.

"Oooooooooooooo NO BALL!" You can close you eyes and work out who's bowling from the shouts of the crowd. The only thing louder is the cheer when Root pulls the first ball, beating the dive of Wahab on the long leg fence. No sign of swing yet from the new nut. Ballance edge! Along the ground, four to third man.  

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

It's a bit gloomy isn't it? Certainly there's no risk of players coming off, but it's a nice time to be taking the new ball.

New ballpublished at 17:49

17:49

Eng 289-3

Out comes the new ball, carried by an England sub fielder who, bizarrely, has a pencil behind his ear. Maybe he's been taking some dinner orders. Mohammad Amir almost snatches it. Eager.

Yasir with presumably what will be the final over before the new nut is due. Mohammad Amir gets loose, ready to get the cherry in hand. Yasir milked for singles, it's just not been his day, thanks mainly to how well England have played him. Fifty partnership between this pair of former housemates.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Cook and Root gave a masterclass on how to play on the first day on a flat track. They just had a method of scoring runs. I don't think Root can play any better than he has done today.

On the other hand, James Vince didn't have that method. Vince is in his fifth Test and he's probably played some of the nicest boundaries of the summer. But he continues to get out. That's the difference.

Breaking news! The Cookie Monster has left Old Trafford. He gets out of his seat, picks up his rucksack, stops at the top of the stand to give us a wave, then disappears down the steps. He looks to be on his own, which takes some bottle. Is he now waiting at Old Trafford tram stop, dressed as the Cookie Monster? Will he then move through Piccadilly station, still dressed as the Cookie Monster? If you see him, shout up.

Tim Flatman: Bit concerned Vince may be the new Ramprakash.

Jim Pearce: People are calling for James Vince to be dropped because he keeps getting himself in then getting out playing silly shots.

There's a big temporary stand away to the left as Yasir twirls in. In that huge bank of black seating, some lads dressed as extras from Zulu are having a right knees up. It's gone darker again, decent conditions to get a new ball in hand. It's available in two overs.

Paul Cuff: Following the action whilst on the train from Vancouver to Seattle. Big cheer for the Root century (from me, anyway…)

There was lots of chat about Gary Ballance's trigger movement in his previous incarnation as a Test cricketer. Back and across, ending deep in the crease. For my money, he looks to get that out of the way earlier now, meaning he is still when the ball is delivered. Wahab steams in, Root swats away a bumper like a man belting a fly with a rolled up newspaper.

Yasir, by the way, has bowled 28 wicketless overs and conceded more than 100 runs. Would we have thought that when he was performing a celebratory Klinsmann dive at Lord's last week. There are 14 overs left in the day, but they have to be bowled by 18:30. 

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

That is Wahab's fifth no-ball in his three-over spell.

Wahab has found some late energy, some pace. A bumper has Root following, looking for the uppercut, almost feathering behind. The slight issue with this late burst is that he's struggling to keep his front foot behind the line. No-balls aplenty. There's probably a joke in there somewhere, but I'm not touching it with a 10ft pole.