Eoin Morgan underpinned England’s 331-4 with a maiden Test hundred on day one of the four-match series against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Morgan (125no) was retained in the team only because of the broken toe Ian Bell suffered.

But the Irishman made no mistake at his third attempt to underline his Test credentials, dominating a record unbroken double-century stand with Paul Collingwood (81no) after England had appeared in trouble on 118-4 following three quick wickets either side of lunch.

The fifth-wicket pair held firm against the threat of Mohammad Aamer (3-39) and Mohammad Asif, both exploiting the cloud cover for Pakistan, before taking toll of back-up bowlers who could not exert necessary control.

Morgan had two moments of fortune, edging Aamer just short of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal on five and then 73 runs later surviving via the decision review system when luckless leg-spinner Danish Kaneria at last won an lbw decision from Asoka de Silva, only to be informed by third umpire Marais Erasmus that the ball was spinning past the leg-stump from round the wicket.

There was just one reverse-sweep, off Kaneria, among his 16 boundaries in a 151-ball century which arrived with a straight six off Shoaib Malik’s off-spin.

Collingwood was rarely fluent but ensured a telling England recovery.