Gary Dear: Can I nominate Chris Read for the worst XI? A very good county player but was woeful in the tests if memory serves.

Azizipeasie: David Capel gets the all rounder slot I should think.

Andy Plowright: Ian Salisbury as spinner. 20 wickets in 15 Tests.

Alastair Cook sticks two fingers up at the umpire, not as an insult, but to check his guard as Holder switches the angle to round the wicket. The shadows lengthen, Cook casting his towards point. One from the over, the appearance of some helmets from the dressing room suggesting that we may be about to get some spin.

Tez: Jerome Taylor not playing feels a lot like when McGrath was ruled out of the 2nd Ashes test in 2005. Just the luck we needed.

Jon Dunn: If Trott scratches his way to a couple of 30s in the remaining Tests, do we suddenly deem him ready to face Aus & the Mitchs'?

The players took drinks, with Kemar Roach returning with one of the worst deliveries you will see in Test cricket. A full toss, so wide wide can only just about reach it to take four through the covers. With that, he passes Alec Stewart's total of 8,463 runs to go second on England's all-time list. Only his mentor Graham Gooch is ahead on 8,900. Will Cook get the same fanfare as James Anderson?

Image source, Reuters

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The captain should get some control with Holder. I thought he bowled just a bit too wide in Antigua. He is the first West Indian bowler I have seen get a bit of swing so there is a bit of hope out there for him."

I was asked earlier on about who would make it in to England's Worst XI if it was made of players who had at least 10 caps. I struggled. The first bowling change sees Jason Holder come on for Shannon Gabriel, wit the tall all-rounder immediately exploring Trott's off stump, occasionally getting too wide. The light is good, bright sunshine, but I'm hearing rumours that it may only last for another 40 minutes or so.

Rick Chapman: Back to the good old days of dreading pressing refresh on my browser - only this time it's a rather fancy App.

John Higgins: I'd happily put up with tedious rain and every match drawn if Cook and Trott managed to rediscover their mojo.

Kemar Roach, shorter than your average fast bowler, scurries in to Alastair Cook, a gold chain around his neck leading the way. Cook has located his off stump and leaving anything that doesn't threaten, which turns out to be plenty of the over. When Roach is too short, Cook toe-ends a pull for a couple to earn whistles from the sparse crowd.

Image source, Reuters

Tony Cozier
BBC Test Match Special

"It was a surprise to everyone when Taylor was deemed unfit for the Test. No-one is sure if he will be fit for Barbados."

This should be a good duel, the speedy Gabriel against Trott, a man perceived to have some problems against the very quickest. No need to play as Gabriel hangs it outside off stump, then a quick bumper is ducked. Well played. When Gabriel gets too full, Trott takes a couple through the covers. In the crowd, some young fun-seekers are dressed as characters from Baywatch. Travelling fans? Backpackers? Is there an England Test match anywhere in the world that doesn't have a group in fancy dress?

Matt Hatcher: Cook and Trott, two of the most criticised and scrutinised batsman for England. Prove a few wrong boys and stick it to them.

Robert Boyce: Very impressed with Gabriel on this "slow" wicket, has he bowled less than 90mph yet!?

Finally, Cook looks like a man warming to his task, lining up Roach well, watching the ball go through to the keeper. Collar up, backside pointing to the square leg umpire, Cook give the ground beneath him a good whack with the bat, then punches the ball back down the pitch to the bowler. In the stands, horns horn, bells bell, all while England continue their steady build.

Image source, Getty Images

Richard Kent in Birmingham: Come on England! We need Alastair to get Cooking, Jonathan to get out of a bad Trott, Gary to give the top order some Ballance, Bell to get ringing, Joe to take Root, Ben to make sure he Stokes the fire in the middle order, Buttler to serve up something special, Stuart to play some Broad strokes, Chris to cross the Jordan and attack the other side, Mo to start Mowing over midwicket, and Jimmy to add some 'Andy runs at the end. Come on England - 500 runs at least!

There's also a shadow being cast by the stand at deep square leg as Cook takes strike to the pacey Gabriel, slowly creeping across the ground, engulfing the man who lurks on the hook. Cook continues to hop around, a man wrestling with himself, almost inventing a way to bat. "I used to be able to do this". Geoffrey Boycott once told me there are three decisions to make as a batsman. Play or leave? Attack or defend? Forward or back? Cook is like a man with about 33 other questions on his mind. Did I lock the back door? When is my car tax due? Do I really have to go to my wife's friend's wedding? Ultimately, though, he is surviving.

Ben Lenyk: Couple of 50s for Cookie and Trott needed here. Confidence going in to the Ashes is a must.

Everything Sport: Come on Cook I have £50 on a century for you today!

Some vintage Jonny Trotter sees him gobble up a leg-stump half-volley, taking four through mid-wicket. When Roach gets the line right, Trott is groping outside the off-stump once more. In fact, both of these batsmen are partial to a grope. It's a gropeathon. In the best weather of the Test so far, rare shadows are being cast by all 15 men on the field. It's a lovely evening in Grenada.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Cook has just got to hang around in there. He did not get any runs for the MCC or in the first Test but it may all slot into place if he can just hang in."

Gabriel has abandoned the the baffling round-the-wicket ploy and is back over in bright sunshine and with a soundtrack of horns. Still bowling with wheels, Gabriel goes past the outside edge twice, the second time Cook jumping and poking like a fencer on a trampoline. TV pictures show spectators at the bar, supping a dark liquid from posh glasses. We'd all like to be there.

Ed Stockton: If Cook makes it past 20 I'll buy twitter a round.

Jay: England scoring at over 6 runs per over? In a Test Match? The world has got to be ending.

Paul Cave: Trott looks like Angus Fraser batting against Michael Holding in his prime.

It's not just Alastair Cook who is needs a score and a bit of certainty around the off dolly, Jonathan Trott could do with knowing where his posh stump is. (It's the one on the left). Roach goes full, drawing an airy drive, with Trott happy to see an inside edge fly past the stumps and to fine leg for four. An England opening stand is more cringe-worthy than an episode of Peep Show. Hide behind the sofa.