ALASTAIR Cook hit form ahead of the Test series with India as he posted a century on the opening day of England Lions' clash with India A at Worcester.

Cook, given a chance to warm up with Lions during a break in the County Championship season, reached three figures for the first time in any format this year.

The 33-year-old brought up a ton from 173 balls as Lions reached 230-2 batting first in the four-day unofficial Test at Blackfinch New Road.

Cook finished the day unbeaten on 154 from 238 balls with England on 310-2.

His fellow opener and skipper Rory Burns was dismissed for five but Nick Gubbins scored 73 in a 155-run second-wicket stand with Cook.

The ex-England captain and Dawid Malan (59 not out) then came together for an unbroken 146-run third-wicket partnership.

Navdeep Saini and Ankit Rajpoot took the wickets to fall.