I mentioned Stokes' attitude to Jason Holder's bowling a couple of overs ago and the TV cameras are now showing how he is walking down the pitch to the seamer.

Holder is just not quick enough to worry Stokes, even with the swing he's finding.

Four more! Full again and Stokes smashes it through the covers along the ground.

The next ball is short from Holder and you know what's coming, right? A pull from Stokes for four. Brilliant batting.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

West Indies look short of a seamer on this surface. Spinners don't interest me here. They never do well.

Matt Wilkinson: We have enough now, England. Declare, put them in and then take 20 wickets by close of play. Feet up for weekend!

Beautiful from Moeen Ali.

When they're good, these two make batting look so easy. A beautifully-timed lofted drive over mid on for four.

That's just as good! This time over the off side. Too much width from spinner Chase.

The 200 is up and England are on the charge.

I don't think Ben Stokes thinks much of Jason Holder's bowling. England's number six gets a decent stride down the pitch and whips the ball through mid-wicket from outside off stump for four. West Indies could be getting nervous here. Stokes could take this England total up significantly in this long session.

Fazeer Mohammed
TMS commentator

The West Indies have improved in leaps and bounds since Edgbaston. They couldn't have gotten any worse, mind.

Ooooo. Stokes gets away with one as an inside edge sneaks between bat and pad and down to fine leg for a couple. That was not too far away from leg stump.

That's a much better over from Roston Chase. The man with cricket's coolest name.

The noise levels are increasing further in the crowd. A group of Flintstones (I think) look to be having a great time.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

We've not seen much swing all summer but Jason Holder is getting some movement. If there's any to be found, perhaps Holder is the man to find it.

It is no surprise with Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes at the crease but this has been a fast start from England after tea.

Stokes has added 23 already in just five overs and brought up his half century with the thumping drive below.

It is still not too easy to bat right now. Holder is still finding a little bit of movement under cloudy skies.

Shannon Gabriel's appearance after tea was brief. West Indies' best bowler is off and replaced by off-spinner Royston Chase.

Will Stokes treat the spinner with the same aggression?

That's clever. England's all-rounder shows he's not all about big hitting and gets across his stumps and plays a fine sweep for four.

A few (quite a lot) of you have noticed that typo a few minutes ago. A bear snake would be terrifying. If the Western Terrace can make a bear out of those beer glasses then I'll be thoroughly impressed.

Image source, Reuters

Could we be in for a Ben Stokes special this evening?

Holder bowling at a military medium drops short and you just can't bowl there to Ben Stokes. He heaves the ball through mid-wicket and it reaches the rope in a flash.

And again! Another thumping drive from the England all-rounder.

Stokes is giving Shannon Gabriel some treatment here. Gabriel was rapid earlier in the day but his pace was down at 83mph for that one. He was nudging 92mph earlier.

Now Moeen gets in on the act. As ever it's beautiful to watch from Mo as he guides the ball behind point off the back foot. 13 from Gabriel's over.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

What a way to bring up 50 - an absolutely thumping drive. That's my shot of the day.

50 for Stokespublished at 51.1 overs

51.1 overs

Stokes 50, Ali 3

The Western Terrace is getting rowdy with a massive beer snake creeping across the stand.

They love that! Ben Stokes gets all his weight behind a cover drive and it whistles to the boundary for his half century.

After a slow start, Stokesy is right in the groove.

You'll be pleased to know Jack is still paying attention. He's pointed out the issues with my last post. Get a cuppa and stay where you are? Impossible. My apologies.

For the second session in a row Jason Holder begins with a no ball. His right arm is still strapped up like an Egyptian mummy like the first Test so it must need warming up.

The rest of the over is pretty tidy and Stokes is restricted to just a single.

Daddycool: re- over rates. 10-run penalty per over not bowled at end of day's play + £1000 from team pot per over. that'll speed them up.

Thanks Jack.

We've had a few people tweeting in saying they're also in the 'We loved Ian Bell too but you've got to learn to let them go club'. I think we're on to something here.

This is going to be a lengthy session with just 50 overs bowled so far today. Grab a cuppa and don't go anywhere folks.

Right, the players are back out onto the field and Jason Holder has the ball in his hands.

That's my cue to hand you back to Matt Henry for the final session.

It's been a pleasure, catch you soon.

At the other end, captain Joe Root was playing a blinder after being dropped early on, equalling AB de Villiers' world record for a 50 in 12 consecutive Tests...

...before he too fell, edging a sweep off Bishoo to once again fail to convert.