England captain not surprised at crowd baiting of Mohammad Amir

Returning Pakistan bowler taunted by Manchester crowd as he continues comeback from spot-fixing ban

Mohammad Amir came in for some criticism from the Old Trafford support (OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

England captain Alastair Cook says the crowd abuse suffered by Mohammad Amir on the first day of the second Test in Manchester was inevitable after the Pakistan fast bowler’s past indiscretions for spot-fixing.

Amir, in his first Test series back since serving a five-year ban for corruption, received a good reception last week when he returned to Lord’s – where in 2010 he conspired to bowl deliberate no-balls against England.

But it was a different story at Old Trafford, where large numbers of fans greeted his every delivery with loud chants of “no-ball” on a day that saw England finish in a commanding position on 314 for four thanks to centuries from Cook and Joe Root.

Cook had warned before the series began that Amir might suffer “consequences” for his spot-fixing past and, after the crowd reaction on the first day, admitted: “I said at the beginning of the series at some stage that might happen.

“There’s got to be some consequences a little bit, there might be some consequences of what he did but I think the most important thing is the way both sides have so far played, got on, played good cricket and that’s the most important thing.”


 Alastair Cook is bowled by Mohammad Amir after making a century on the first day of the second Test (Getty)

Cook was eventually bowled by Amir for 105 but his first Test hundred since October was timely coming as it did after England’s 75-run defeat at Lord’s in the series opener.

“It’s been a while since I scored a hundred for England so it’s nice to get one on the back of last week as well,” he said. “Certainly as a captain you might talk a bit more than the other players and it’s nice when the actions back up some of the words you’re saying.

“Now we’re in the position we are in we’ve got the opportunity to get well over 400 or 500.”

Cook’s 29th Test century saw him draw level with Don Bradman on the all-time list, the Australian great reaching that number in 79 fewer matches.

“I can’t really compare that, he did it in less than half of the games I did,” admitted Cook. “It was just nice to get off 28.”