Strauss departs but England in control

The pre-match build-up was dominated by Gayle's apparent distaste for the longer form of the game, as well as some verbal jousting between the rival skippers, but it was the Jamaican who won the personal duel as Strauss departed for 26.

But he could do little to separate Alastair Cook (59no) and Ravi Bopara (35no) as England moved into a promising position midway through the afternoon session.

Strauss opted to bat and the opening exchanges hinted at both a benign strip and attack, with no shot required off the first 11 legitimate deliveries of the morning.

Strauss, who scored the day's first boundary in the sixth over, eventually got things going when he dispatched a Fidel Edwards short ball through mid-wicket after it slowed up off the pitch.

Jerome Taylor found some inconsistent bounce when a wide delivery failed to get up and he followed up with one that beat Cook's outside edge. Lionel Baker then found the edge of Strauss' bat, but the batsman was relieved to see the ball canon sharply into the ground before reaching Sulieman Benn at gully.

Both openers hit crisp drives for four before Strauss flicked to fine leg for the England 50. Cook then collected 14 off the 20th over, bowled by Baker, with two nice boundaries and a luckier four which flew just over middle stump off the inside edge.

Moments later Gayle had his man. A fullish ball tempted Strauss to sweep and brushed his glove as the ball straightened on its way through to Denesh Ramdin.

Gayle also found Cook's edge before the interval but this time failed to carry.

The tourists started the afternoon session with spinners Gayle and Benn bowling in partnership, but Bopara was looking comfortable against both.