Steve, Maidenhead

Fazeer Mohammed
TMS commentator

This is like Christmas for West Indies - they have three batsmen in the England top five who they think they can get cheaply.

Alec Stewart
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

West Indies will be really happy to have England 46-4 with the two big guns, Cook and Root, gone. But if they come searching for wickets, England score freely. If they keep pitching the ball where they had success yesterday, they will pose England problems.

Image source, Getty Images

I can't imagine the response if I had tried to set the future Mrs Shemilt an exam on cricket.

A GCSE, A level or degree in the great game is a cracking idea, mind.

Modules to include: The Mythology of the Corridor of Uncertainty, The Mechanics of Muttiah Muralitharan's Elbow and Bodyline - International Outrage or Whinging Aussies?

Fazeer Mohammed
TMS commentator

There's a lot of batting still to come from West Indies. As they did at Headingley, they are showing they can compete with the best in the world.

The covers that were on the square are being rolled away. The Voice of Test Match Cricket, the one that booms around every ground in the country, mumbles something over the PA. (Who is that chap? He's got a wonderful job. And a voice you can set your watch to.) It's not bright, but it's brighter.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Yesterday Ben Stokes was nigh on unplayable. He was without doubt the stand-out player - he was simply stunning.

Before Stokes got that huge IPL contract, I don't think he felt that comfortable in the current pantheon of great cricketers. After he went, he realised he was as good as them. The confidence now exudes from him - and there's nothing ore dangerous than a player who realises how good he is.

I am over the moon that he plays for England, because he's the trump card if you want to be the best team in the world.

Start delayedpublished at 10:46 British Summer Time 8 September 2017

10:46 BST 8 September 2017

News. The start has been delayed until 11:15 BST. That's assuming we don't get any more rain - which we may well get.

Basically, you've got at least 15 extra minutes to make a brew/make yourself like you're busy/do your maths homework/pray for salvation.

Now, I haven't skippered the live text ship for some time. It's good to be back, mainly because I can invite contributions from you, dear reader. You know the drill - text 81111, tweet using the hashtag #bbccricket, external or email tms@bbc.co.uk.

It's Friday, so let me know what you're up to. Top tips for dodging the rain at cricket might be useful, too.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

There's more meat on a dirty fork than Jimmy Anderson. He's got a horrific diet, but he never gets injured and is a master of his trade.

BBC Test Match Special

Nevertheless, Test Match Special is on the air and will remain so even if the Four Horsemen arrive in north London. Remember, it's your last chance to hear Henry Blofeld commentating on Test cricket. You can listen on 5 live sports extra, or at the top of this page. We'll have video highlight as they happen, too.

That, though, seems like a big "if".

At the moment, there's wet stuff around Lord's. The pitch is covered and, as I type, the groundstaff are unfurling the white sheets to protect the square. An official is in the middle, sheltering under an umbrella, and there aren't many patrons daft enough to be in the stands.

A prompt start seems unlikely.

Yep, on a day where the fall of 14 wickets made batsmen an endangered species, England find themselves up against it in the deciding Test - even though they bowled West Indies out for 123.

Day two should be a belter. If the rain stays away...

...until both teams have batted.

That's the thing with Test cricket. You just don't know a good score...