Strauss puts England in control

Strauss fell for 169 while Alastair Cook and Owais Shah also chipped in with half-centuries to confirm a successful resumption to the four-match series for the tourists.

Such was the ease with which England batted at the Antigua Recreation Ground, having been put in due to the uncertainty over the state of the hastily-prepared pitch, that the dismissals in their score were arguably of their own making.

Cook took his failure to convert half-centuries to Test hundreds within the past year to nine occurrences, played loosely at Chris Gayle's off-spin.

And Shah's first innings at this level for almost two years was brought to its conclusion by a moment of madness, which saw him attempt to steal a single from a defensive block.

Strauss succumbed late in the day when, with shadows lengthening around the ground, a weary pull at the second new ball offered a simple return catch for Fidel Edwards.

Nevertheless, it was an encouraging start for England in a match rescheduled at breakneck speed after Friday's farce at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Strauss reached a 167-ball century deep into the afternoon session during a run spree for the England batsmen.

His second-wicket partner Shah was also in full flow at that point as a dispirited West Indies employed seven men in their lame attack.

A vicious pulled four off Daren Powell put Strauss on the verge of three figures and when he punched a full toss into the gap on the leg side for two the very next ball, he immediately let out a roar of delight, before saluting the thousands of travelling fans.