Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

West Indies aren't bowling with any nip or venom. But I'm still surprised they've not bowled any bouncers - they've not bowled one. You've got to try something.

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Joseph, with a fluffy little goatee beard dangling off his chin, trudges back and forth to his marker. Cook and Root exchange singles. Two from the over.

Debutant Stoneman and number three Westley must be looking on in frustration. They may have missed out on an opportunity to score some big runs today.

TV cameras pan to Andrew Strauss in the posh booths. How England could do with an opener of his calibre!

Wayne Andrews: That '50 in most consecutive Tests' thing - with bowling like this, Root will be top of that list by the end of this series.

The players are rehydrated and it's stand and admire stuff from Joe Root. Foot to the pitch of the ball and driven to the long-on boundary for four. He has overtaken Cook, as he moves on to 73.

I wonder what is going through the minds of the West Indies fielders right now? It's the second session of the series and they look so deflated.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

Image source, BBC Sport

Oliver Hannon-Dalby. Quite tall.

England only seem to be dealing in fours. Short and wide by Joseph, cut through point by Root, the ball whizzing past the boundary foam as a young lad holds up a 'four' placard.

I have to be honest, I thought the crowd would be a little more raucous. I reckon all will change when the sun sets and the lights come on.

It's time for drinks, so why don't you enjoy these Joe Root boundaries from this session ...

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

When Alastair Cook is on 60-odd, don't bowl a leg-stump half-volley. You'll be thrashed.

Another ball strays down leg side, another four. Cook can't get bat on it but his thigh pad will do enough to send it to the boundary.

What's next? Another ball strays down leg side, another four. A bit fuller and Cook clips it through mid-wicket.

There has been a lot of West Indies' bowling bashing, but when you have been treated to a summer of Morkel, Rabada and Philander (not to mention the England fellas), it's hard not to be critical.

Fours are coming so easily. Root settles himself and punches it down the ground for a sweet straight drive.

I have been notified that I put the score as 145-8 in the 38th over entry. That has now been changed. Thanks to all you eagle-eyed tweeters for putting me straight.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

We seem like we've been here forever, and it's only 30 minutes into the second session. It's going to be a long one. I was very excited this morning to get here - it's a bit of history!

Paul, if he had the choice though, his girlfriend's windscreen or the satisfaction of cracking you for four, what would he choose?

Glum faces on the West Indies balcony. It's a long night yet, chaps. A wicket or two against the run of play could change things.

But they will be feeling even more glum as Cook works Holder off the hips for a fine four. The West Indies captain shakes his head, but can only blame himself for bowling it in that area.

Back-to-back boundaries for Root - cue the 'Roooooooooot' chants.

Joseph tries to bang it in short but it's a long hop which Joe Root happily pulls for four. Short and wide and the England captain opens the face of his bat and guides the next delivery down to the third man boundary.

Better from Joseph, who pitches one up, forcing a play-and-a-miss. But another expensive over - eight from it.

Horrible ball from Holder, awful. It's back of a length, it's slow and it's on leg stump. The result? It's worked off the legs by Cook for four.

The Windies were firing with two early wickets but there just seems to be a real lack of 'oomph' in their attack. Yes, 'oomph' is a technical cricket word.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

As a bowling side, you get the feeling with Alastair Cook that if he gets to 20 and 30, and gets himself in on a flat pitch, he will stay at his pace and his tempo and slowly grind you down.

Alzarri Joseph returns. He's a big lad for someone born in 1996.

Patient batting from Cook, who is happy to fend off the first five balls before guiding it to mid-off with some loose hands - just enough pace on it for a quick single.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

It's been an excellent fifty. Maybe not the sweetest of shots to get there but he has been patient, punished anything with width, and the captain is continuing to lead from the front.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

This is the 11th consecutive Test match in which Joe Root has scored a least a fifty, which is the most for England, surpassing John Edrich's record of 10 consecutive matches. It's just one behind AB de Villiers' record of 12.