Cook finding groove after injury

15:45, Dec 9 2009

Alastair Cook made the most of England's short ration of cricket, before the inevitable rain intervened to limit the tourists to less than half of the first day at Buffalo Park. Cook's share of 142 for three was an unbeaten 66, while Kevin Pietersen - still searching for a first big score before next week's first Test - had to settle for more modest gains. Cook, who also made a half-century for the England Performance Programme team in Pretoria last week, shared 50 stands first with Pietersen (25) and then Paul Collingwood (27 not out) - after captain Andrew Strauss (one) and Jonathan Trott (11) had both gone cheaply. He could reflect with satisfaction on his 96-ball 50, as he continues to recover from a back injury, but insisted too that Pietersen's innings was a step in the right direction. The opener is "managing" his back trouble and is confident he will be able to continue to do so through the remainder of the tour. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT "I still do feel it. It's quite major when you have two prolapsed discs - but I can move fine out there now," he said. "The first week with it is always weird, with back spasms, and you think you'll never be able to move properly again." The next stage of Cook's rehabilitation could not have gone much better on Wednesday on a stodgy wicket which showed the effects of the past week under cover. As more rain swamped the ground again on Wednesday afternoon, prospects for play on the final day of two on Thursday were not obvious. But England then have a second two-day match scheduled against the same opponents at the same venue.

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