Cook shines on gloomy day

Alastair Cook returned to Test form with a pleasant hundred on a day of frustration, curtailed by poor weather. After the West Indies tour opener against Somerset was badly affected by rain, the first day of the Test series met a similar fate, as players dashed on and off the field, away from rain and bad light.

Only 56 overs were possible, and though the West Indies bowling grew in confidence and accuracy as the day wore on, it was firmly England who took the spoils. Cook’s 102 unbeaten was a monumental score in a total of 200-3 after England were inserted at the toss.

In ideal conditions, the West Indies bowlers struggled to build pressure. Jerome Taylor in particular was defeated in his battle with the slope at Lord’s, surrendering 35 runs from 6 wicketless overs. Daren Powell was a far trickier proposition, and he returned after lunch to bowl the West Indies back into the game. The fast bowler was very impressive in taking 2 for 52, continuing the form that made him invaluable through most of the World Cup.

Newly re-instated captain, Andrew Strauss and Cook had already added 88 in 24 overs when Powell first struck. Strauss drove loosely and was caught by Devon Smith for a promising 33. In came Owais Shah, making his return to Test cricket after more than a year’s break since his debut Test. He received a harsh blow to the head by a Taylor throw from mid-on, but did not last long enough to avenge himself. Instead he was squared up by Powell and caught at slip for 6.

Again Smith was the catcher, and he took a third as Pietersen lashed Collymore airily to cover. All the promise of 26 from 44 balls was thrown away by the leading batsman. It further highlighted the achievement of Cook, as his teammates batted themselves in and then were dismissed in the softest of fashions.

It was very evident that the West Indies bowlers lacked match practice, as their only warm-up fixture was washed out with the tourists still at the crease. The bowling improved over the course of the day though, seen largely in the diligence of Powell and Bravo. Both bowled with great heart and beat the bat on several occasions. And though Bravo tested Collingwood early on, it was the England batsman who won the battle in that final session.

Collingwood fairly eased into stride in what proved the closing exchanges of the game. Looking particularly comfortable on the back foot, he scored 21 from 31 balls when the batsmen were offered light for the last time.

For England the innings of Cook was invaluable in its calmness and sheer quantity, holding the innings together for the lion’s share praise on a gloomy day. For Cook it was a welcome return to runs at the highest level. Having averaged under 30 over the course of the Ashes, the left-hander piled on 3 hundreds for Essex in the early season. And it was a relieved England dressing room that celebrated the conversion of that domestic form into an international hundred.

Now England will look to build on their strong platform on what will hopefully be a brighter second day’s play, in weather terms. But they will be faced with a West Indies attack likely to be less rusty and more consistent and threatening.

England 200-3 (56 overs)
Alastair Cook 102*, Andrew Strauss 33, Kevin Pietersen 26
Daren Powell 2-52