Ambrose makes most of rare start

Ambrose, whose only involvement previously has been as a substitute fielder, grabbed the opportunity for a rare innings to reach tea unbeaten on 64 in a score of 268 for four.

England were keen for Ambrose to get some action as he is certain to play at least one of the final two Tests of the series.

First-choice Matt Prior is currently scheduled to return home on March 2, the final evening of the Barbados Test, to attend the birth of his first child.

However, if his wife Emily goes into labour before Thursday's start, Prior will quit the tour immediately, meaning his former Sussex team-mate Ambrose would be thrust into the match at Kensington Oval.

Ambrose walked into bat after lunch when captain Andrew Strauss retired on 66, and lost both Ian Bell and Prior, for nought, in the opening hour of the restart. But an unbroken 95-run stand with Ravi Bopara, playing a matter of hours after a long-haul flight from New Zealand, kept up the healthy scoring rate against a young home team.

Ambrose's 50 came off 74 balls while Bopara reached his own landmark, just before tea, from three balls less, having hit eight fours and a straight six off off-spinner Rostin Chase.

That blow rubbed salt into the wounds for Chase, who had Bopara dropped on 23 at deep midwicket in the previous over.

When Ian Bell and Matt Prior sliced catches off seamer Kevin Stoute after the interval, the tourists were 173 for four.

Bell, currently out of the Test side, guided to gully for 44 while Prior mishit to point in the space of two overs.