ALASTAIR Cook was one of the few bright spots to emerge from the wreckage of England's crushing 10-wicket defeat in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley on Monday.

Former Bedford School pupil Cook made a battling 60 in the second innings as the tourists' domination was rewarded with a well-deserved 1-0 series lead.

Ex-Bedford Modern School student Monty Panesar picked up three tail-end wickets but failed to make inroads into the South African top order as they racked up a massive 522 after bowling out the hosts for a poor 203.

The defeat will have come as a huge disappointment to Michael Vaughan's side who had the better of the first Test but were unable to leave with anything better than a hard-fought draw.

In Leeds, it was with the bat where England came up badly short.
Only Kevin Pietersen, 45, and Ian Bell, 31, made much impression after England had been put in to bat and the hosts' efforts were put into perspective by Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers who both scored big hundreds.

Cook and Stuart Broad, 67 not out, made sure that the tourists would have to bat again but there will need to be an improved performance at Edgbaston next week if England are to level the series.