Alastair Cook's debut Test half-century for England in Nagpur yesterday bore the hallmarks of a batsman at home at the highest level, according to the 21-year-old's Essex mentor Graham Gooch.

Cook scored 60 opening the innings in an otherwise disappointing first day for England in their three-Test series against India.

Former England captain and opener Gooch appears confident there is much more to come from his protege, saying of the tall left-hander: "He wasn't ruffled by the situation. I thought he handled it well, especially the Indian spinners.

"He's got a lot to learn - he's got to enhance his game in terms of options against spinners - but he did a good job for his country."

Despite Cook's encour-aging start, England mustered a below-par 246 for seven by the close after stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff won an important toss.

"He played like I expected him to," Essex head coach Gooch said.

"He's got a lot of self-belief; he's very mature for his age; he's got a good temperament which will stand him in good stead for his career.

"He stepped up a grade straightaway, and that's due to his temperament, the way he works at his game - he's very keen to learn.

"When you first come into international cricket you have to handle the cauldron of pressure."

Gooch's former teammate Ian Botham also saw much that he liked from the debutant yesterday, saying: "Alastair Cook did very well and he was got out by a very good piece of bowling by Irfan Pathan, reversing the ball into him. He played very well.

"He showed good composure. Nothing seemed to fluster him - he looked technically very good and he is really one for the future.

"At that age I say 'get them in there' - I am all for it."