Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott hit composed fifties as they shared a hundred partnership to make firm inroads into West Indies’ first-innings 299.
England resumed on 74 for no wicket, with Cook and Trott on 37 and 32 respectively, and the new opening pair progressed comfortably on a still-placid pitch in sunny Grenada.
Cook was first to his half-century, and Trott’s was his first in international cricket since August 2013, for much of which time he has of course been out of the England team.
Trott fell for 59, edging spinner Devendra Bishoo to second slip, to end a fine stand of 125. The tourists then moved on to 143 for one at lunch.
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Afternoon session
5.41pm – We are under way with Shannon Gabriel bowling to Alastair Cook.
Morning session
5.01pm – LUNCH! Eng 143/1; Cook 67, Ballance 7 – Blackwood cops a blow when Cook, having played out a maiden to Marlon Samuels, pulls into him in Bishoo’s next over, but happily he is okay to continue. Each spinner bowls another cheap over, Bishoo’s a maiden, before the interval. That was a solid session for England.
Cook (65no) survives a close lbw review as the decision remains with the on-field umpire: http://t.co/NJbJWGLUgjpic.twitter.com/cc6Enwm4zf
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) April 23, 2015
4.48pm – REVIEW! – Bishoo hits Cook’s front pad and has an lbw shout turned down. West Indies ask for another look and Cook, on 65, who seemed to be in trouble, is saved as the ball would only have clipped the top of middle stump. Phew!
4.38pm – Cook thick-edges Roach safely downwards past second slip for four before Bishoo sends down a maiden to new man Gary Ballance, a second-innings centurion in the last Test. After Ballance gets going with a single off Bishoo, Cook top-edges a sweep against the spinner that falls safely behind square-leg.
Trott is out for 59, edging Bishoo to slip. Eng 125-1. Watch live on SS2 or follow via: http://t.co/H6ocrNeXPlpic.twitter.com/NHMAQlRYmu
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) April 23, 2015
4.28pm – WICKET! Trott c Blackwood b Bishoo 59; Eng 125/1 – Trott sweetly straight-drives the returning Roach for four to start the over. He ends it by inside-edging to fine-leg, although not that close to his stumps. But in the next he drives at Bishoo and edges to second slip where Jermaine Blackwood, wearing a helmet, holds on. That was Trott’s highest score versus the Windies in Tests.
4.13pm – FIFTY! Trott (137b 6x0 0x6) – Trott guides Bishoo behind square on the off side and scampers a quick single to bring up his first Test half-century since August 2013, for much of which time he has of course not been playing international cricket. He acknowledges applause in understated fashion.
Cook & Trott take their opening partnership into three figures... http://t.co/GWOljm5Cub Watch on SS2 now! pic.twitter.com/kkj7SZFijp
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) April 23, 2015
3.54pm – FIFTY! Cook (135b 6x4 0x6) – Cook cuts Bishoo for two to move England past 100 and raise an excellent century partnership with Trott. He works the next ball through midwicket to reach a fifty. In the next over Holder has a loud lbw shout against Cook turned down and West Indies opt not to review, with the ball looking to be going over off stump as it brushed the top of his front pad and went through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
3.49pm – With England on 99 without loss, Bishoo bowls a maiden to Cook who will have been annoyed not to put away a full-toss, instead picking out mid-on. Holder then delivers a runless over to Trott.
3.33pm – With both batsmen looking fairly comfortable against pace, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who caused Cook a few problems yesterday, is introduced. Both Cook and Trott are into the forties. It’s a double bowling change as Jason Holder takes over from Gabriel.
Absolutely glorious day for batting. Cook and Trott settling in for the long haul
— Dean Wilson (@CricketMirror) April 23, 2015
86 - Cook and Trott have put on England's highest Test opening stand (86) since March 2013 (Cook and Compton, 231, v New Zealand). Solution?
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) April 23, 2015
3.21pm – Following a Roach maiden to Cook, Trott gets the day’s first four, albeit via an outside edge off Gabriel that went low past gully.
Trott getting plenty of ducking practice from Shannon Gabriel this morning.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) April 23, 2015
3.04pm – Cook, who saw out a maiden to Gabriel, and Trott are sensibly playing themselves in on a still-placid pitch.
Everything looks set fair for England's batsmen today, on the ground and up above - if they can get through this opening burst
— Scyld Berry (@scyldberry) April 23, 2015
Properly quick from Shannon Gabriel….
— Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) April 23, 2015
2.45pm – We are under way on time with Shannon Gabriel bowling to Jonathan Trott, who plays out a maiden. Alastair Cook and Trott each score a single early in the next over, bowled by Kemar Roach, to get up and running for the day.
Pre-play news
2.40pm – Good news! The weather is fair this morning in Grenada. While waiting for the action to start, why not recap yesterday’s action and read what Stuart Broad had to say about it. We’ve also got a video of our chat with Broad, above.
The players go through their final training exercises before play #WIvEngpic.twitter.com/4iBXIwyXIn
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) April 23, 2015
2.30pm – Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Grenada Test. England will resume on 74 without loss in reply to West Indies’ 299 all out. Play is set to start in 15 minutes to make up somewhat for rain delays in the previous two days.
Watch @flintoff11 explain what it's like to wear the England crest Happy #StGeorgesDay! https://t.co/Tsn7uH2FC7
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) April 23, 2015
Be good to see a hundred from the captain on St George's day ! Have a good one
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) April 23, 2015