Prior helps England bid

Wicketkeeper Prior (126 not out) followed Paul Collingwood (111) and Alastair Cook (105) to three figures - and got there slightly before his sixth-wicket partner Ian Bell (109no).

The 25-year-old dominated his unbroken stand of 190 with Bell, who had 56 runs on the board when Prior came in.

Prior hit 16 fours from 105 deliveries as he became only the third England player to make a century on debut at the home of cricket.

Friday was only the second instance - the other against Australia at Trent Bridge 69 years ago - that four England players have made a hundred in the same innings.

It was clear Prior had a perfect opportunity to demonstrate his attacking style - and he made no mistake with a succession of crisp cover-drives, clubbed pulls and plenty of self-belief.

A more workmanlike Collingwood had earlier made West Indies pay for missed chances as he posted his fourth Test hundred.

He was twice dropped badly in the 30s and went on to share a stand of 144 with Bell, helping to keep the pressure on for batting positions in an England middle order due to be reinforced by the returns from injury of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff at Headingley next week.

Collingwood's hundred took 178 balls, and Bell's 180 - but Prior operated on a different frequency.