James Anderson's new-ball spell pegs back West Indies as England claim first-day honours in Barbados

West Indies: 264/8 off 89.2 overs
West Indies vs England, first Test: live scoreboard

England had the better of the opening day of this series by limiting West Indies to 264 for eight wickets. James Anderson, who had bowled too short earlier, made full amends by taking three wickets in his second new-ball spell.

In the process he took his total tally to 569 Test wickets and became the first England bowler to take 200 wickets overseas.

Anderson had taken only one wicket in Sri Lanka before being omitted for the final Test. He had only one day of bowling during the tourists’ week of match-practice. But the engine needs nothing more than fine-tuning, even if it is 36 years old, and he reeled off 24 overs - half of them maidens - to take his four wickets for only 33 runs.

Once he pitched the ball up, which he did not do in his opening spell, Anderson was as penetrative as he has ever been. West Indies were well in the game when England took the second new ball, although none of their batsmen had played the big innings required, and Anderson needed no second invitation.

Given the bonus of an inaugural Test against Ireland in July, he is well on course to reach his 600th Test wicket during the Ashes.

Ben Stokes weighed in with three wickets, two of them in the middle part of the day when West Indies threatened to put together the telling partnership that never came. If England had picked a fourth pace bowler in Stuart Broad, whose confidence had been restored by a hat-trick last week, it is inonceivable that West Indies would have lasted the first day. So England got there in the end but they went the long way round, by selecting two spinners, instead of taking the short cut.

England’s selection was far from thoughtless but rather came at the opposite extreme of being too clever. Root and Trevor Bayliss, who together made the final decision, probably looked too far down the track to what might happen later in the game when the pitch starts turning. Round one matters more - to win the opening session of a series by knocking the opponent down.

More weight should have been given to the following facts: that the pitch was going to start damp, having been watered within 48 hours of the start; that the ball was of the Dukes brand, effectively designed to assist pace bowlers in the West Indies; that there was a strong cross-wind, helping Anderson’s outswinger (though he switched to the pavilion end to take his first wicket of Shai Hope), a wind which would have helped Broad’s outswinger too; and that West Indies have just returned from a long tour of India and Bangladesh, where they faced better spinners than England’s.

So it was halfway through the afternoon session before Stokes brought England into the match with a spell worthy of the special 50th Test cap he had received before play, from the original Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison. Before then, England’s three pacers bowled too short, and their two spinners too much, for a placid pitch. Moeen Ali’s wicket of John Campbell was due to batsman-error.

Anderson’s outswingers described lovely arcs all day but not for the first time he pitched too short in his opening spell - especially against Kraigg Brathwaite, whose grip makes it hard for him to offdrive - and too seldom made the batsmen play, unlike later in the day. Anderson bowled eight overs for five runs in his opening spell, figures only superficially fine. Had Root had been able to call on Broad, he could have whipped Anderson off after three or four overs - or at least threatened to do so, unless he pitched fuller.

The unknown quantity of John Campbell cashed in on the short balls from England’s pace bowlers - until Campbell’s quantity became apparent as a compulsive slog-sweeper of spin. Moeen’s first three balls were dispatched for eight runs, before Campbell slog-swept again and yorked himself.

All of the West Indian batsmen brought something to the table; none outstayed his welcome to play the innings that would have won the day for the home side. Brathwaite brought doggedness, Campbell positive intent, Hope a polished technique, his offdrive a highlight. Roston Chase and Shimron Hetmyer cashed in against the too many overs of spin which England had to bowl, to rest their three pacers, before the second ball came due at 230 for four.

Darren Bravo had been brought back - after only one first-class game in two years - for the classiness that seems to come from being a cousin of Brian Lara, but he was completely deceived by Stokes’s slower ball. It was on a par with Harmison’s that dismissed Michael Clarke when the Edgbaston Test of 2005 was wrenching more and more guts. Stokes should not put his slower ball away in the cupboard hereafter.

Chase hit one six and Hetmyer two sixes off England’s spinners - who were increased to three by Root’s appearance - to accelerate the West Indian innings. But as soon as Anderson took the second ball he took his second wicket, when Chase fended outside off. Anderson followed up by exploiting Shane Dowrich’s susceptibility to the bouncer, and taking a return catch in his left hand when Jason Holder scooped the new ball back lamely.

9:19PM

Close: WI 264/8 (Hetmyer 56*) off 89.2 ov

Shimron Hetmyer is running out of partners. England have been magnificent with that new ball. West Indies were 240-4 about 35 minutes ago and had every expectation of being able to call this their day. But James Anderson, as he so often does, answered the call and took three for six in five overs of superb new ball bowling. Ben Stokes came on for some hot and heavy, and took one as well, and England will reflect in the rooms that they have done a really good job here on a pitch that was turgid for much of the day.

Whether they need Rashid, Moeen and Root is a question. The pitch seems to be quickening up and, while West Indies will be disappointed not to be in a more commanding position, their quicks might be a handful.

9:14PM

WICKET! Roach c Root b Stokes 0

That is a spicy meatball from Ben Stokes! It's straight, it is quick, it climbs unpleasantly and there's not much that tailender Kemar Roach can do about that. It hits the shoulder of his bat, loops to Root at slip and England have another. FOW 264/8

That will do it for today.

9:10PM

OVER 89: WI 263/7 (Hetmyer 55* Roach 0*)

This will be Jimmy's last over. Hetmyer is on strike. I wonder if he'll stick at that end or risk exposing Roach.

Jimmy Anderson now has 201 wickets outside UK. Not bad for somebody who was allegedly only good in English conditions.

Hetmyer nudges ball four off his hip, and that brings Roach on strike. Anderson gets a ball to lift off a length and hit Roach on the glove. Ow.

Anderson receives applause from the crowd and congratulations from his teammates at the end of the over.

9:07PM

OVER 88: WI 262/7 (Hetmyer 54* Roach 0*)

Kemar Roach the new man, and a single off the first ball of the over for Hetmyer means he'll get a look at Stokes right away. Fifth ball of the over zings off the pitch and Foakes takes it at head height. Has this deck quickened a little? It was supposed to do that.

9:05PM

OVER 87: WI 261/7 (Hetmyer 53*)

That comes off the last ball of the over.

9:03PM

WICKET! Holder c and b Anderson 5

Oh superb, Jimmy. Straight ball, squares up Holder, who ends up playing a strange little French cricket shot, donking the ball back to Anderson. The return catch is no gift, though: Jimmy has to react really quickly and stick out his left hand. Good grab, great spell, great bowler. FOW 261/7

9:00PM

OVER 86: WI 257/6 (Hetmyer 53* Holder 1*)

Skipper comes to the crease, he and Hetmyer simply have to resist this. Stokes is coming on for a last blast, and exchanges a meaningful look with Hetmyer when the Windies youngster biffs him to the fence!

Fifty up for Hetmyer. Dropped by Jos when he was three.

8:55PM

OVER 85: WI 250/6 (Hetmyer 48*)

That comes off the last ball of the over, Anderson has two for spit and this is now England's day, no doubt.

Ben Stokes is coming on to see if he can knock over one more.

8:52PM

WICKET! Dowrich c Buttler b Anderson 0

Farewell Shane Dowrich, we hardly knew ye. Anderson digs it in, I think it is the leg cutter, Dowrich gets in all sorts of trouble. Half pulling, half cowering, it flicks off his top edge and loops ever so gently to Buttler in the slip cordon. FOW 250/6

Not sure he should be making quite so much of a meal of things on this gentle deck there.

James Anderson has kicked the door in and England are on top as the shadows lengthen.

8:50PM

OVER 84: WI 250/5 (Hetmyer 48* Dowrich 0*)

Hetmyer slaughters Curran through the offside, Buttler (I think) dives in vain. Hetmyer now chips the ball over the legside, 9 iron style, for a couple. Now bashes Curran down the ground for another four. He is a very fun cricketer. At 22, we might be watching him vs Sam Curran for many years to come. On current evidence, that would be better news for Shimron than Sam. Ten off this over.

8:45PM

OVER 83: WI 240/5 (Hetmyer 38* Dowrich 0*)                     

Shane Dowrich comes in for the last ball of the over, and survives it. It is a wicket maiden.

8:43PM

WICKET! Chase c Root b Anderson 54

Absolute class from the ageless Jimmy Anderson. He sets Chase up with the in-swinger, and then gives him the outtie the next ball. Chase nibbles at it, caught by Joe Root at slip. FOW 240/5

Chase didn't really move his feet, just fiddled.

Very, very close to being a no ball. But okay.

8:38PM

OVER 82: WI 240/4 (Chase 54* Hetmyer 38*)                     

Sam Curran shares the new ball and I was going to say that maybe I'd have asked Stokes to give me four overs of bristle and BS but then Curran produces a nice swinging delivery first up that pins Chase on the back pad. I thought this looked a good shout but it was too high I guess and England don't seriously consider the DRS.

Chase takes the single that brings up a well-made fifty.

Hetmyer drives down the ground and Moeen Ali makes a game save on the ropes to keep that to three.

When Curran drifts on to Chase's pads, he flicks it away for a cheap four and that's quite an expensive over all told.

8:34PM

OVER 81: WI 231/4 (Chase 49* Hetmyer 35*)                   

Here's Jimmy, two slips and a gully, Chase in his sights. The day is even steven at the moment I would say, a wicket with the new cherry and you'd probably give it to England on points. Swing and seam for Jimmy, but well played. Just one off the over.

8:27PM

OVER 80: WI 230/4 (Chase 48* Hetmyer 35*)                   

Rashid, with a three-run over. A rather flat 40 minutes or so comes to an end and it is going to be time for the new ball.

8:26PM

OVER 79: WI 227/4 (Chase 47* Hetmyer 33*)                 

This pair share a little moment as their stand passes fifty but are soon back concentrating. Hetmyer drives back at Root, the ball's in the air for a split second. Couple of leg byes and trio of singles make for a handy five-run over.

8:24PM

OVER 78: WI 222/4 (Chase 45* Hetmyer 32*)                 

Rashid spins the leggie, Chase edges wide of slip.

We're on the Minor Benaud and Windies are going nicely. Neither Root nor Rashers doing much with the ball.

8:22PM

OVER 77: WI 219/4 (Chase 43* Hetmyer 31*)               

Root with his all sorts. Round arm stuff, leggies, whatever. One off the over.

8:16PM

OVER 76: WI 218/4 (Chase 42* Hetmyer 31*)               

Chase drills Rashid back down the ground. Adil is in the wide-awake club, sticks out a hand, and fingertips the ball onto the stumps. The umpires check but, thankfully, Hetmyer's bat is well grounded.

8:14PM

OVER 75: WI 216/4 (Chase 41* Hetmyer 30*)             

Three off Root's set. We're getting through these overs at a lick. A quiet period of the game presumably England will be looking to ramp it up with the new ball.

8:13PM

OVER 74: WI 213/4 (Chase 40* Hetmyer 28*)             

Hetmyer, a cool bloke, has now added a floppy sunhat to his outfit!

8:11PM

OVER 73: WI 211/4 (Chase 38* Hetmyer 28*)           

Root gets Chase to edge the ball, it lands short of slip.

8:04PM

OVER 72: WI 210/4 (Chase 37* Hetmyer 28*)           

With Adil Rashid now on, Shimron Hetmyer removes his helmet. He is batting without cap or helmet, you don't see that very often do you?

And the over goes for 16! Chase hammers a wide one away for four. Now Hetmyer has lofted the spinner languidly, lusciously over long off. And he adds a cut behind point for four. Wallop.

James Anderson dives to try and stop that cut on the ropes and he seems to have done himself a minor mischief. He walks off at the end of the over. Or maybe it is just a comfort break.

8:01PM

OVER 71: WI 194/4 (Chase 32* Hetmyer 17*)         

Root brings himself on for an over of his non-turning (at least on this evidence today) spinners. He tries a mixture of off-breaks and leggies. The wait for his 21st Test wicket continues.

7:56PM

OVER 70: WI 192/4 (Chase 31* Hetmyer 16*)         

Hetmyer, a very attractive bat, drives Anderson for four through the covers. Buttler dives but cannot get there.

7:47PM

OVER 69: WI 186/4 (Chase 30* Hetmyer 11*)       

Hetmyer has lofted Mooen Ali for six down the ground. England take drinks

If I were Jos, I think I might keep out of that huddle. Maybe go hide in the loo for five minutes.

7:46PM

OVER 68: WI 179/4 (Chase 30* Hetmyer 4*)       

Jossington! Oh no! Hetmyer drives into the offside, uppish and Jos Buttler has dropped it at extra cover. It was a really gettable chance for a player of his ability. To be honest most club cricketers would back themselves. Just one of those things I guess. Anderson, for him, takes it reasonably well. By which I mean that he hasn't kicked Jos in the pants.

7:41PM

OVER 67: WI 176/4 (Chase 30* Hetmyer 1*)     

Chase drives attractively, Anderson stops athletically. Ali's over goes for just a couple. Hetmyer is allowed to get off the mark with a sauntered single to leg.

7:37PM

OVER 66: WI 174/4 (Chase 29* Hetmyer 0*)     

James Anderson had gone an uncharacteristically long time without a wicket but the drought is over now, and he nearly pulls off his own personal version of one brings two as he comes around the wicket for a snorter that nips back at Shimron Hetmyer.

7:32PM

WICKET! Hope c Foakes b Anderson 57

Ah, a real shame: Hope had played beautifully, but 57 on this batting deck is not quite what he wanted. A wide ball from Anderson, he fences at it with the cross bat, inside edge as the ball comes back a smidge, and a safe low catch by Foakes. FOW 174/4

7:31PM

OVER 65: WI 174/3 (Hope 57* Chase 29*)   

Couple of singles off Moeen.

7:28PM

OVER 64: WI 172/3 (Hope 56* Chase 28*)   

James Anderson continues with a maiden. This is hard yakka now for the English. Plugging away at Hope with an accurate maiden. England might find that this dud pitch suddenly wakes up on day two or three if they're facing 450 on the board...

That being said, Windies have certainly got a collapse in them, so I wouldn't be panicking just yet.

7:23PM

OVER 63: WI 172/3 (Hope 56* Chase 28*) 

Chase has flogged Moeen for six! Front foot out of the way, beefy swing of the arms, six runs down the ground. Pongo.

7:22PM

OVER 62: WI 164/3 (Hope 55* Chase 21*) 

James Anderson back for a spell and he nearly sneaks the first ball through Hope's defences! Nice shot later in the over when Hope guides the ball for four.

7:15PM

It would take a heart of stone...

7:14PM

OVER 61: WI 160/3 (Hope 51* Chase 21*)

Moeen. Wide rubbish, Chase larrups that for four. Full toss, whacked for four. Overpitched ball, hit to the fielder. Outside edge! Bounces in front of slip. Eventful stuff.

7:11PM

OVER 60: WI 152/3 (Hope 51* Chase 13*)

Chase drives square of the wicket, good shot, and a really good bit of fielding on the rope from Bairstow to keep them to three. Hope crisply clip the ball off his pads, finds the fielder. At the end of the previous over, he pinged a drive straight at a man. Misplaced Hope, you might say.

Moeen Ali comes on. Will West Indies have a go?

7:09PM

OVER 59: WI 149/3 (Hope 51* Chase 10*)

Stokes is as fit as a butcher's dog, innit. He's still charging in, this is the ninth over of the spell (albeit that there was a break for tea). He gets Chase in a pickle with a lifter.

7:02PM

OVER 58: WI 148/3 (Hope 51* Chase 9*)     

Shai Hope, what a lovely player to watch, is nicely up on his toes to force the ball in to the offside. Two runs for that and this has been a classy half century.

Earlier in the over, Chase drove pleasingly for four. There are eight runs off the Curran over.

6:57PM

OVER 57: WI 140/3 (Hope 48* Chase 4*)   

Hope creams the ball through the covers... or rather not through, because James Anderson hurls himself full length to make a wonderful stop. Has there ever been a better fielding quick bowler?

Now Stokes gets back to work on friend Roston. England digging it in to Chase.

6:53PM

OVER 56: WI 139/3 (Hope 47* Chase 4*)   

That's an honest maiden from Sam Curran, watchful batting from Roston Chase.

6:48PM

OVER 55: WI 139/3 (Hope 47* Chase 4*) 

Stokes has a leg gully and a short leg, he's coming over the wicket to the right-hander Chase and is angling the ball into him. Chase is dogged on the back foot. Stokes moves leg gully back to the deep, digs the ball in, but Chase rides the bounce and tucks it for a single. No pace in this pudding. Hope cuts, mistimes it, the ball dribbles down.

6:45PM

OVER 54: WI 138/3 (Hope 47* Chase 3*) 

Before the game, there was discussion about the special Dukes ball for this series, which is unusually tough-wearing. The ball has still got some shine and is swinging conventionally, 54 overs old. As evidenced by a couple of hooping balls from Sam Curran here. But when he drops short, it sits up and begs. Hope cashes in with a four.

6:40PM

OVER 53: WI 134/3 (Hope 43* Chase 3*)

Stokes was at it before the early tea in a five-over spell, and Root naturally asks him to go again. Couple of short ones to Chase, but line's not right, and he can tuck a ball away off his hips. Stokes looks a bit stiff, but still getting it down there at 140kmh. Probing, aggressive line to Hope.

6:36PM

OVER 52: WI 132/3 (Hope 42* Chase 2*)

Sam Curran finishes off that over, just one ball. Shai Hope defends it.

6:35PM

Players are coming back out

And we are ready to roll.

6:18PM

TEA: West Indies 132/3 (Hope 42* Chase 2*)

Rain stops play and tea will be taken 30 minutes early. After a couple of decent partnerships, Ben Stokes seized the initiative with two wickets in five balls to pull England back into this. He has bowled with real vim, control and intelligence. Hope is in glorious nick but the afternoon belongs to England's gun all-rounder. They should be able to resume play fairly quickly after the early tea and Alan Tyers will be back to steer you through it. Thanks for your company.

6:13PM

OVER 51.5: WI 132/3 (Hope 42* Chase 2*)

It's suddenly gone dark overhead and the groundstaff are donning waterproofs and manning the covers. The umpire wants to keep them out there but finally relents after five balls of Curran's over as the shower intensifies. Five dot balls for Curran - this drizzle should not detain us too long.

6:10PM

OVER 51: WI 132/3 (Hope 42* Chase 2*)

For someone with a supposedly chronically sore knee, Stokes is generating decent pace of 140kph. Chase blocks the first off the back foot and it skids towards cover as he sets off for a run before being sent back in the nick of time. It's a proper examination from the bowler - a bouncer, one ragging in from wide of the crease that takes an inside edge on to the pad as Chase pushes forward followed by a short one and then a yorker that he squeezes out through backward square for a single. We're going to have a bowling change at the other end. Sam Curran will return for his first spell of the afternoon session.

6:04PM

OVER 50: WI 130/3 (Hope 41* Chase 1*)

Rashid is reduced to a supporting role and he is filling it dutifully, going for only a couple of singles. But we want the ball back in Stokes' hands asap. Chase gets off the mark with a flick through midwicket and Hope glides his down to third man.

6:00PM

OVER 49: WI 128/3 (Hope 40* Chase 0*)

Commendable thinking and execution from Stokes who has bowled with great control and aggression. Precisely what was needed by England.

5:55PM

Wicket!

Bravo lbw b Stokes 2The ball before, that was angled across the left-hander, tempted him into an airy waft. Next delivery is angled in from over the wicket, straightens and pins him plumb as he played French cricket at it. FOW 128/3

5:55PM

OVER 48: WI 128/2 (Hope 40* Bravo 2*)

Bravo tucks the leg-spinner off his pads. That high backlift allows him to flick it with force, playing with the spin.

5:52PM

OVER 47: WI 127/2 (Hope 40* Bravo 1*)

Brilliant from Stokes to find the perfect line and length to square Brathwaite up. England's enforcer does it again. Enter Bravo for his first Test for more than two years and it's his 50th, too. He gets off the mark in a bit of a flap, getting on to his tiptoes to flip it behind square leg for a single.

5:46PM

Wicket!

Brathwaite c Root b Stokes 40The drinks break does it for England as it so often does for teams in a rut. Nice shape from Stokes, angling it in, persuading it to straighten and climb and tickle the edge as the opener tried to defend. Good catch by Root low at first slip. Stokes has an abundance of skill as well as force of personality but without the latter he wouldn't be half the player. FOW 126/2

5:42PM

OVER 46: WI 125/1 (Brathwaite 40* Hope 39*)

In his 10th over Rashid surprises Brathwaite with the one out of the front of his hand, more a slider than a toppie. Even though he was rushed, the line took it past the stumps so the evident panic was, in the end, unjustified. Well bowled, though. That's drinks.

5:39PM

OVER 45: WI 124/1 (Brathwaite 40* Hope 38*)

Stokes is bending his back and the pitch is meeting him a quarter-way when he bangs it in. He is trying to discomfit Hope and he almost succeeds when the batsman is forced up on pointe and nearly drags his dead-bat backward defensive shot on to his stumps.

5:36PM

OVER 44: WI 123/1 (Brathwaite 40* Hope 37*)

Rashid's length has slipped and consequently he is taken for three singles and a two. He's giving it a rip and the pitch is responding in slomo but the batsmen have too much time to adjust. Hope cuts a single, Brathwaite cuffs two off his hip but there was a loud, enthusiastic cry when he did pitch one up and Hope only just managed to dig it out and squirt it to cover for a well-run single.

5:33PM

OVER 43: WI 118/1 (Brathwaite 37* Hope 35*)

The great thing about Stokes is the total investment of all his emotions to the cause. He is deeply frustrated that England are struggling to make a breakthrough and he is giving it the kitchen sink with body language, a tight line and a nice line in exasperated gurning when Hope takes him for a single.

5:29PM

OVER 42: WI 117/1 (Brathwaite 37* Hope 34*)

Brathwaite dabs a single through point off Rashid and Hope leans forward to push another to cover. At the end of the over he goes into conference with Moeen, both of them smiling as they talk, discussing, one hopes, a new line of attack. Ben Stokes is coming on for Anderson.

5:25PM

OVER 41: WI 115/1 (Brathwaite 36* Hope 33*)

The Anderson floodgates open at last for West Indies, Hope murders a cut shot through point for four, then climbs into a gorgeous cover drive when the bowler overpitches in pursuit of away movement. Anderson's figures go from 0 for six off 13 over to 0 for 14 off 14. Scrooge turns spendthrift.

5:20PM

OVER 40: WI 107/1 (Brathwaite 36* Hope 25*)

This must be the longest first-day spell Rashid has bowled since his recall last summer. Brathwaite runs a leg bye off the googly that hits him on the thigh and Hope goes back to flick one down to long leg. A sliver of hope for England at the end of the over when one jumps a bit off the pitch in a puff of dust. Find that spot and hit it again.

5:17PM

OVER 39: WI 105/1 (Brathwaite 36* Hope 24*)

A fourth successive maiden for Anderson. This miserliness sustains him on days like these. Even when he makes a mistake by dropping the last ball short outside off stump, Hope scythes his cut straight to cover.

5:13PM

OVER 38: WI 105/1 (Brathwaite 36* Hope 24*)

A Rashid occupation hazard, the long hop, costs him only a single because Root has posted a hare down at cow corner who cuts off the boundary and arrows the return into Foakes' gloves. Brathwaite pokes a single through cover and Hope whips one around the corner. The partnership stands at 53, their sixth half-century stand to go with their two centuries.

5:10PM

OVER 37: WI 102/1 (Brathwaite 35* Hope 22*)

Another maiden for Anderson though Hope does get off strike with a leg-bye that kisses his hip on its way down to fine leg. Both batsmen are leaving Anderson judiciously so far. Will he adjust his line a fraction?

5:08PM

OVER 36: WI 101/1 (Brathwaite 35* Hope 22*)

West Indies post the hundred, Hope takes them one closer with a back-foot drive through cover and Brathwaite takes them there with a punch through cover. A yelp rings round the ground as Hope flicks the googly just wide of Jennings at short leg at catchable height. Jennings takes off his lid to reveal a shaven head and Michael Atherton tells the well-worn tale of Chris Lewis in 1994 and 'the prat without the hat'. Keith Fletcher, coach at the time, remembered: "The funny thing was, he'd got Devon Malcolm to shave his head for him. Devon's blind as a bat anyway, so Chris had all these little bits of toilet paper stuck all over his head where Devon had nicked him.  My initial reaction when I saw him wasn't to worry whether he might get sunstroke, it was to laugh - he just looked so funny with all these bits of paper stuck on his head."

5:02PM

OVER 35: WI 98/1 (Brathwaite 34* Hope 20*)

A sixth maiden for Anderson from 11 overs today, The ball arcs away from Brathwaite and he lets three of them through to the keeper, defends the others. Anderson is laying the trap for the one that nips back.

4:59PM

OVER 34: WI 98/1 (Brathwaite 34* Hope 20*)

Rashid is bowling very straight, trying leggies and googlies, doing OK. The batsmen milk five singles, four with a couple of flicks and the last, with Brathwaite's crisp drive to mid-off. Root runs around quickly and throws down the stumps at the non-striker's but the opener was home by about a foot. This pitch is a dud.

4:54PM

OVER 33: WI 93/1 (Brathwaite 31* Hope 18*)

Anderson reasserts control. He hasn't taken a wicket in more than 300 deliveries, since bagging  Dimuth Karunaratne in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. But he racks up another maiden with an impeccable line.

4:51PM

OVER 32: WI 93/1 (Brathwaite 31* Hope 18*)

Rashid continues after lunch and he is bowling with attractive flight and control to Hope. The batsman crunches a couple of defensives up the pitch, punches a drive to short mid-off then slaps one squarer down to the cover sweeper for two. Rashid adjusts his line to middle and off for the wrong 'un and Hope reads it, whipping it through square leg for a single. There is turn off the pitch but it isn't fizzing. The batsmen have ample time to watch it move before playing their strokes.

4:46PM

OVER 31: WI 90/1 (Brathwaite 31* Hope 15*)   

Anderson, who starts his second spell with figures of 8-4-5-0. Shai Hope is facing and the No3, who enjoys an average partnership of 45.54 with Brathwaite, defends a couple, deflecting the ball square on either side of the wicket. Anderson pitches the next up and Hope leans into a drive that is smartly stopped by the fielder. He blocks another, leaves one then tucks a single off his hip to pinch the strike. Since the England tour, Hope averages just 25 in Tests, but he always looks a million dollars, as he does here.

4:39PM

Good afternoon

In 2009, West Indies scored 749 for nine in their first innings at Kensington Oval against England and Ramnaresh Sarwan made 291, his third century of the series.  Just saying. Jimmy Anderson will open the bowling after lunch.

4:04PM

Lunch: West Indies 89/1 (Brathwaite 31* Hope 14*)

The debutant John Campbell made an attractive 44 before getting cocky and missing a sweep to a Moeen straight one. But on a tame pitch, the patient Brathwaite and Hope have put on a further 36 and have been largely untroubled. There were 30 overs in the session, would you believe it. After the 40 minute lunch interval it will be Rob Bagchi for a session; I myself will see you for the evening session, which should start at 7pm UK time.

4:02PM

OVER 30: WI 89/1 (Brathwaite 31* Hope 14*)                         

Rashers to Brathwaite, here's the googler, but he has picked that nicely. Plays out a maiden, and that is lunch.

4:01PM

OVER 29: WI 89/1 (Brathwaite 31* Hope 14*)                         

Moeen, perhaps inspired by his mate, also prepared to give it some air. Hope pings a nice drive but finds Root at mid on. We will have one more before the interval.

3:57PM

OVER 28: WI 86/1 (Brathwaite 29* Hope 13*)                       

Time for a bit of Adil Rashid. He's got the confidence to toss sit up, slow and loopy, but this pair are not biting.

3:53PM

OVER 27: WI 82/1 (Brathwaite 27* Hope 11*)                       

Ali continues, the West Indies pair taking no chances as we tick over towards lunch.

3:50PM

OVER 26: WI 80/1 (Brathwaite 26* Hope 10*)                     

Stokes with a full ball, Hope with an expressive drive, nailing it for four.

3:47PM

OVER 25: WI 76/1 (Brathwaite 26* Hope 6*)                     

Hope hit on the pads on the back foot but that is going over. Solid over from Moeen.

3:42PM

OVER 24: WI 74/1 (Brathwaite 25* Hope 5*)                   

Stokes. Ball three is a big inswinger, using the breeze that is coming from extra cover to angle it back into Hope. Ball four is the outswinger! Holds its line outside off, Hope has a fiddle.

3:40PM

OVER 23: WI 74/1 (Brathwaite 25* Hope 5*)                   

Brathwaite heaves Ali to midwicket and that's another boundary.

If this pair get through to the hour this will have been a super morning for the Windies.

3:38PM

OVER 22: WI 70/1 (Brathwaite 21* Hope 5*)                 

Lovely classical drive from Hope, four all the way.

3:31PM

OVER 21: WI 66/1 (Brathwaite 21* Hope 1*)                 

Nice use of the feet from Brathwaite here and he strokes Moeen through the covers for four runs. And now later in the over he dances down the track and slogs him for six!

3:29PM

OVER 20: WI 54/1 (Brathwaite 10* Hope 0*)               

Mixture of heavy balls short of a length and the occasional full swinger from Stokes. Decent fare but doesn't look especially threatening.

3:24PM

OVER 19: WI 53/1 (Brathwaite 9* Hope 0*)               

Shai Hope comes in and defends. Wicket maiden.

3:21PM

WICKET! Campbell lbw Moeen Ali 44

John Campbell looked like he fancied Moeen, but he has got carried away. Moeen with a simple plan: bowl it straight, and Campbell has swung across the line of a full ball. He's hit on the pad, it looks stone dead, and he has not hit it. FOW 53/1 He had a chat with his partner but this was as out as you could wish to see.

Team selection, and the bowling change, both get a boost! Jaunty knock from the debutant.

3:19PM

OVER 18: WI 53/0 (Brathwaite 9* Campbell 44*)             

Stokes pitches up and Campbell creams that ball through the covers. Shot of the day so far.

Now a streaky edge through third man, loose shot that from Brathwaite.

3:15PM

OVER 17: WI 44/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 39*)             

England have got two spinners in the side, and so let's have a look at one of them. It's Moeen Ali. Root, as is his way, implicitly telling Adil Rashid that he is the junior.

Moeen starts with a full toss, Campbell helps himself to a couple. Tosses the second ball up and Campbell smacks that to the square leg fence slog-sweep style. Similar sort of shot now, but top edged this time. Lands safe.

3:12PM

OVER 16: WI 35/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 30*)           

Stokes continues and gets a ball to lift on Brathwaite. Played well enough. It has been a quiet start to the match so far, all things considered.

3:04PM

OVER 15: WI 34/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 29*)           

Another peach from Jim, drawing Brathwaite forward and zipping past the edge. James now has eight overs four maidens none for five and might well have had a wicket on another day.

Windies will enjoy their drinks feeling that they have started on the right foot.

KC Brathwaite with a nuggety knock so far, 48 balls for his five.

3:03PM

OVER 14: WI 34/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 29*)         

Campbell with another guide to third man, he's played that shot well thus far, and they chalk up for more against B Stokes.

2:58PM

OVER 13: WI 30/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 25*)         

Anderson gets a bit of change out of the pitch here. Nipping back in off the seam, he traps Brathwaite in front. Going over the top of leg I would say, and England do not follow up a throaty appeal with a DRS request.

2:53PM

OVER 12: WI 30/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 25*)       

Stokes short and wide, Campbell climbs in with a joyful smack over point. Shows impeccable judgement later in the over as he leaves a tight one.

2:48PM

OVER 11: WI 26/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 21*)       

First lapse of concentration from Campbell as he aims a wild drive at a wide ball. Lucky to miss that. After a single, Anderson produces the ball of the day so far, a full quick delivery that moves away very late. Wasted on thee, Kraigggg Brathwaite, he is not good enough to edge that. Not sure many would be.

We are going to have our first bowling change. It's Stokes. Curran's spell five overs one maiden none for 21. He looked like what he is, in that spell: a useful second change bowler who is in the side mainly for his batting. He is not a Test match opening bowler in my opinion.

2:43PM

OVER 10: WI 25/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 20*)     

Curran over the wicket to the right-handed Brathwaite, some of this a bit too leg-sidey, but a nice delivery here snakes past the outside edge.

2:41PM

OVER 9: WI 25/0 (Brathwaite 5* Campbell 20*)     

Good solid fare from Anderson but not much help from this peculiar looking pitch.

2:36PM

OVER 8: WI 24/0 (Brathwaite 4* Campbell 20*)   

I'm impressed with Campbell so far, picks up the length quickly in this Curran over. Tucks off the pads for a couple.

2:34PM

OVER 7: WI 22/0 (Brathwaite 4* Campbell 18*)   

Big inswinger again from Jimmy, this time it is Brathwaite who's pad is pinged. Again going down leg. Maiden over demands respect.

2:29PM

OVER 6: WI 22/0 (Brathwaite 4* Campbell 18*) 

Much to admire about Sam Curran, but not when he drops short at sub-80 mph pace. Walloped merrily to the midwicket fence by Campbell.

2:23PM

OVER 5: WI 17/0 (Brathwaite 3* Campbell 14*) 

Very full from Anderson, and a bit quicker, this inswinger whacks Campbell on the pad. Going down leg and given not out. England do not review. Anderson follows that up with the ball that goes across him, beating the bat. Classy bowling.

2:20PM

OVER 4: WI 16/0 (Brathwaite 2* Campbell 14*)

Curran offers width, and Campbell crushes the ball through the offside for four. The new man looks like he enjoys feeling bat on ball.

2:18PM

OVER 3: WI 10/0 (Brathwaite 1* Campbell 9*)

The batsmen trade singles off the first two balls of the over. Brathwaite settling in. Good old fashioned sort of an opener. Looking like the right call at the toss, the pitch seems tame indeed.

2:08PM

OVER 2: WI 8/0 (Brathwaite * Campbell 8*)

The debutant Campbell will face Sam Curran, bowling from the Joel Garner End.

Campbell is a left hander, has a first class average of just 30, he's a Jamaican. 25-years-old.

And he's off the mark first ball in Tests! Squirts the ball through third man for four, played it with soft hands.

Curran finds his line with a lovely delivery, but that's well left by the opener. Curran loses the line down leg a couple of times. Last ball of the over, another guide to the third man fence and that's an encouraging start.

2:07PM

OVER 1: WI 0/0 (Brathwaite 0* Campbell 0*)

Not a lot of pace in the deck, but there is some swing for Anderson. First ball squares Brathwaite up. More composed against the next couple. Fourth ball full, swinging, that's the stuff. Dibbles ball five into the offside and wants a run, but they think better of it. Last ball of the over also full, and there's certainly some encouragement through the air for Jimmy, and a crossfield breeze.

2:04PM

James Anderson has the ball

he has three slips and a gully, he has KraiggBrathwaite in his sights. At the non-striker's end, John Campbell.

2:02PM

Sir Garfield greets the guys

Looking great.

Joel also about.

1:57PM

Pitch earlier

They have been watering it a lot.

1:55PM

Lovely scenes

1:54PM

Bo selectors

1:52PM

Agency copy on the selection

England preferred Sam Curran and Adil Rashid to Stuart Broad and Jack Leach in the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados.

The selection represented a blow for Broad, who has now been left out for rising star Curran in three of England's last four Tests after a decade as first-choice.

Leach was also left disappointed, edged out as second spinner by Rashid despite finishing the recent tour of Sri Lanka as the tourists' joint top wicket-taker.

England captain Joe Root lost the toss and was asked to field first by opposite number Jason Holder.

1:41PM

Teams

1:39PM

The team sheet

1:37PM

Two spinners for England

and no spinners for West Indies.

1:35PM

Joe Root

"If we can bowl well there might be a bit of spin as well, the pitch could be a bit tacky. We have gone for Adil and Moeen, Stuart is very unlucky to miss out. But it shows the good position that we are in with the squad.

Bit of a gut call to go with Sam, he strengthens the batting and gives us another angle of attack."

1:33PM

The toss

West Indies win and bat. "We expect a bit in the first hour but we back our batsman. We have gone for the extra seamer," says Windies skipper Jason Holder.

"We welcome Bravo back into the side. We back him, we expect him to perform."

1:31PM

Selection news from Nick

1:27PM

Nice Durham moment

As Steve Harmison presents Ben Stokes with his 50th England cap. Harmy had that excellent series here in 2004, didn't he? That blistering 7-12 in Sabina Park was when you knew that England had a pace bowler capable of greatness.

More on the selection in a sec.

1:22PM

Looks like England might

be leaving out Stuart Broad.

Teams and toss coming up.

1:17PM

More from Geoffrey

"For England, the Test matches will be like playing at home as thousands from the UK will go on a holiday of a lifetime.

They will enjoy the wonderful beaches, the warm friendly welcome, steel bands and rum punches. It is everything you want from a holiday but don’t expect the cricket to be special."

England should be far too good against a West Indies side full of very ordinary, average cricketers

1:10PM

Good afternoon

Tyers here, a Test series about to start, and a huge year ahead for English cricket. First things first, they need a performance in Bridgetown Barbados, the home of so many great fast bowlers, but Geoffrey Boycott says that the current West Indies crop are "some very ordinary, average cricketers."

1:07PM

West Indies vs England, first Test preview

England captain Joe Root is ready to make ruthless decisions as he looks for the right balance in Barbados.

The tourists have tough calls to make over their bowling attack, with a drier than expected pitch at the Kensington Oval and a swing-friendly Dukes ball offering conflicting hints.

If England trust their ability to exploit the ball, which has stayed hard for longer than expected since landing on the island, they could choose four seamers and Moeen Ali as a solitary spinner. If, on the other hand, they suspect the surface will turn it could mean a head to head between senior man Stuart Broad and rising star Sam Curran.

Either way, Root can expect some difficult conversations. Broad boasts the small matter of 433 Test scalps, Curran has began his career with a seven-match winning streak and tweakers Jack Leach and Adil Rashid excelled in the 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka before Christmas.

"The most important thing is that they're all ready to go and whatever decision we make none of them are going to let us down," he said.

"Whoever misses out is going to be very unfortunate but I am sure they'll be ready for the second one if they're not required here.

"It's hard to work out what the pitch is going to be like so it's about keeping an open mind, seeing how it is when we turn up tomorrow and probably making quite a late decision on the team. We'll just have to make a big call in the morning."