Challenging times for England

Captain Andrew Strauss was among three morning wickets to fall as the top-order failed to take advantage of winning the toss in the first Test. Strauss' opposite number Chris Gayle believed he had gained a fourth success 13 minutes into the afternoon session when Paul Collingwood was struck on the pad.

Umpire Rudi Koertzen turned down the confident appeals, however, and television official Daryl Harper confirmed the impact was outside off-stump following Gayle's decision to refer it upstairs. That meant the home team lost one of its two appeals in the innings - they are only retained if a successful challenge is made.

Off-spinner Gayle came perilously close to claiming the prize scalp of Kevin Pietersen in his next over, the 34th of the innings, but a top-edged sweep spiralled into no-man's land between square-leg and long-leg.

Tied down by the spin duo of Gayle and Sulieman Benn, England were 84 for three. Strauss fell cheaply in his first match since inheriting the England captaincy officially, when he failed to take advantage of an early life and perished in just the fifth over.

He was followed by opening partner Alastair Cook, who miscued a pull horribly, and Ian Bell, who succumbed minutes before lunch. England, buoyed by all-rounder Andrew Flintoff being passed fit following a side strain, were therefore reliant on former leader Pietersen to dig them out of a hole.

Strauss nibbled at a delivery from Jerome Taylor, just outside off-stump, and was held low down by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Number three Bell, who once again was preferred to nearly man Owais Shah, appeared to rid himself of nerves by regularly locating the gaps in the field and raced into the teens. But Cook's poor shot off Daren Powell - a long hop dragged straight to mid-on - gifted the West Indies a second success.

Pietersen was quickly into his stride, a disdainful flick for four off Powell early in his innings followed by a classical straight drive for four off Fidel Edwards immediately after drinks.

His arrival at the crease triggered a change in Bell's tempo - having made 19 before they came together, the Warwickshire batsman added only nine more runs in over an hour. A misjudgment of Gayle's arm ball resulted in an edge to slip, which was comfortably snaffled low down by Devon Smith.