England make solid start

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Put into bat in ideal seamer-friendly conditions at Lord's, England would have expected a testing start to the international summer from the tourists' all-seam attack.

However, the hosts took advantage of their wayward attack and advanced without alarm to a promising 85 without loss at lunch after an opening session restricted to 22 overs by morning rain.

Despite being given perfect conditions, new-ball pair Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor struggled to find the right line and length as England began cautiously.

Openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook maintained a watching brief during the early stages and it took them until the 34th ball of the day before stand-in captain Strauss pulled Taylor for the first boundary of the day.

Boosted by that success, Strauss clipped his next ball off his legs through mid-wicket, forcing new West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan to remove Taylor from the attack after just three overs and bring in the more experienced Corey Collymore.

However, the former Warwickshire bowler suffered the same struggles, with Strauss cutting his second ball for four.

Strauss' early strokeplay was quickly subdued by Cook, however, with the Essex left-hander overtaking him to reach an unbeaten 47, while England's stand-in captain progressed to 31.

He was leading an England side deprived of key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who failed a fitness test on his problematic left ankle and was replaced by Owais Shah.