108-0 at lunch.

I can imagine it in years to come "This pitch is so flat, Alistair Cook could hit a 6 on it"

I'm pretty sure Boycott said something similar on TMS earlier

Not years, old chap. You've just launched a cliché.

God bless her and all who sail in her

I was actually typing the quote in my best Boycott accent, if that makes any sense.

50 for Cook, so any in-running gamblers out there, lump on him for next wicket.

Eng 219/0

Recording Opening Partenership for England v West Indies, beating a 59 Year Old record.

Top drawer delivery from Powell to clean bowl Strauss, not sure where that came from.

The game has not moved along from Englands point of view for over an hour. Strange, considering the positive intent until tea.

Shah took 47 deliveries to make a scratchy 7.

301-3 at stumps.

Good day in all, even if we did lose a bit of impetus towards the end of the day.

Identical position to he last Test after day one, hopefull KP can make some runs and I am looking forward to seeing Bopara bat.

Only real worry is can England take 20 wickets to win the match if the pitch says as it is? Perhaps a 2nd spinner would have been wise.

[url=http://img.skysports.com/09/02/800x600/Andrew-Strauss-bowled_1922804.jpgcracking pic of it[/url

Terrible play by both Shah and Cook, who were obviously playing for themselves rather than the team.

To attempt the shot Cook did whilst on 94 was ludicrous and the way Shah scratched around for 7 runs on a flat track was bewildering.

Thank goodness we had KP to come in and steady the ship.

Shah's comedy running from the last test and his very strange innings yesterday mean he's doing his best to let Ian Bell back into the team. How very British of him.

i bet boycs had something to say about that

Referral on a Pietersen lbw decision. Looks out to me.

Yep. Gone. 318 for 4

Ouch.

433/4.

Collingwood 73*

Bopara 53*

Collingwood WTF

Why the hell have they not declared already? Same as the last test, stumbling blindly towards some ridiculous figure, when they should really be declaring and busting a gut to get the required 20 wickets for a win.

If they can't skittle the Windies and they get a decent score it's a draw again, so why go in search of 600 and use up 2 days doing it? Once past 500 they should have slapped it around like it was the last overs of a twenty twenty in which they were miles behind.

See I was right. Can anyone sense another draw? They've been in the position to win both the last two tests and bombed them by being so conservative. Why not have a go at them for once?

aussies hanging in there

So the Windies declare on a mere 749-9.

On this pitch batting it out shouldn't be a problem, but this is England.

Surely we have to give Rashid a go next match, we haven't got any match winning bowlers and at least this kid has the "potential" to be one.