Every so often, the Windies just make half of something happen. Holder in the last over, Trott edging Bishoo past slip in this one. Still, with the sun shining brightly, Trott continues to accumulate through the off side, nudging himself towards a half-century.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Image source, AFP

"Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook have now shared in 10 partnerships worth more than 100 runs - they are only the sixth English pair to do so."

Ooohhh, very good nut from Jason Holder almost has Alastair Cook on the lonely walk. Round the wicket, big in-ducker, Cook late on the ball. It goes between bat and pad, with the Windies hollering an appeal. What for? Leg before? Caught behind? Obstructing the field? Anything. Bruce Oxenford unmoved, Denesh Ramdin eventually deciding not to review. A good call from the skipper. There was no bat and it was nowhere near being lbw. Still, bit of trouble for Cook.

Tom: If Cook gets a hundred today do we forgive the fact that he's been awful for two years now? There are easily 10 English batsmen playing county cricket who would get 100s today in the form they are in. Then again the ECB have shown that county cricket doesn't mean anything in the selection process.

I'm told that this is Alastair Cook's fourth half-century in his last seven Test innings. Not bad for a man out of form. He's facing up to Jason Holder after the break.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I think Ramdin is going to have to keep on swapping his bowlers around, not worrying about spells and keep the batsman guessing because it is a slow pitch."

Image source, Getty Images

Well played, captain. Alastair Cook goes to his 39th Test half-century with a push on the leg side. What started as a desperate fumble for form last night has become increasingly assured today. A slight raise of the bat, the words of Graham Gooch in his ear: "Make it a daddy". This is also the first century opening stand for England since March 2013, between Cook and Nick Compton (remember him?). Time for a drink.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"England are not a bad side in Test cricket. They have not been playing to their best capabilities but there are a lot of good cricketers in the side, they just need to put it all together."

Image source, Reuters

The rangy Holder in the sort of sunshine Caribbean dreams are made of. Accuracy from the ODI skipper, easing the ball into the straw-coloured pitch on a decent length, off stump or thereabouts. Trott, the shuffler, walks into his defensive strokes, playing back a maiden. Reasonably slow going from England, but that's because the Windies have bowled pretty well.

Deano, who is hungover in his hotel room in Grenada: RE: 1450, Barmies are mostly men, aged 35-50... That's not quite true. I have toured with the Army since 2006 and there are many women amongst our ranks, and many men outside of that age range too. All are welcome, especially those who wish to back the team vocally.

That's a little naught from Sir G, not least because Yorkshire are only ever allowed one overseas player in their XI. Cook, hunting that half-century, fails to fill his boots when Bishoo loops up a full toss, belting it straight at mid-on. The leggie gets away with a maiden and Cook has to wait.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"My Yorkshire CCC XI could beat WI: Lyth, Lees, Williamson, Root, Ballance, Finch, Bairstow, Rashid, Plunkett, Sidebottom, Brooks."

I feel the pain of those ensconced in academia while there is cricket to be watched/played. Whoever decided that exam time should come in summer clearly wasn't a cricket fan. Holder delivers the ball from skyscraper height, with Jonathan Trott applying his trademark trigger-movement shuffle to ease a couple through the covers.

Matthew in Aberdeen University: I am with you Kofi (15:10). Meant to be writing up 40000 words for a history masters but have decided that following TMS is more important for now!

James at Imperial: There must be something in the water here as I've found that very few words on driver genes in breast cancer have materialised on my screen these past couple of days.

Wayne King in Cambridge: I feel your pain, why does Test cricket always start again in time for exams! Currently revising for finals but Cook and Trott working again is too good to miss!

Bishoo, quiff of a Teddy Boy, suncream on his cheeks, spins himself a few catches and asks for a second catcher to come on the leg side for Cook. The leggie may be camped at one end while the seamers rotate at the other. A touch short, both of these England batsmen working singles.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"My experience is that some captains put on young bowlers and do not tell them what line and length they want from them. Especially with Holder, he is young and has come from nowhere, he needs to be given some direction. He should be asked to bowl five tight overs, if he gives away eight-10 overs then he should be off. The West Indies have not been looking like they are going to take wickets so they need to look at bowling maidens."

The long limbs of Jason Holder are asked to bowl for the first time today as the sun continues to play hide and seek behind the clouds. Two slips and a gully for Cook, Holder hurling the ball on a full length with his shirt flapping up his back. Relaxed scenes on the England balcony, next man Gary Ballance chatting with a sunglasses-clad Stuart Broad. The England pacer is smiling like a man not expecting to bat today. Little bit of wobble for Holder, but England keep ticking.

Pete: Re 14.50 Barmies sing Jerusalem. Just had my first Test away experience in Antigua. Sat by the Barmies every day and joined in the singing. Terrific stuff and the whole experience was incredible.

The first change of the day sees the introduction of a man who might have sore arms by the close. Devendra Bishoo is on to whir down his leg-breaks, which could have done for Alastair Cook on a couple of occasions last night. He bowls the majority of his first over to Trott, who is looking to play off the back foot as much as possible. Hint of turn, but nothing dramatic. Windies remain disciplined, without looking dangerous.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The Professional Cricketers' Association has a team of ex-England players and some of them that play are better now then when they played. Players like Mark Ealham and Chris Schofield."