Simon Mann
The Cricket Social

England are on the charge.

Eng 345-4published at 103 overs

103 overs

Root 114, Stokes 40

Ben Stokes is in one-day mode. He shifts his front foot out of the way and tries to heave the ball to the boundary. Sadly he picks out the fielder.

Not this time. There are no fielders in the stands. This one is whacked a long way over the leg side.

This could be fun.

Image source, Reuters

Russell Moore: The forecast still says its going to be 28 degrees in St Lucia. I'm no Test bowler but the last thing I'd want to do as a seamer is spend the middle of the day charging in that heat. Let them bat for a while first.

I think we can safely say England have enough runs. Gabriel's first delivery has some extra bounce and thuds into Shane Dowrich's gloves.

The West Indies field is spread far and wide. There isn't much opportunity to chat. There's one slip, who is standing where you would normally see third slip. There are a couple of others dotted in the infield. The rest are spread far and wide in the deep.

Image source, Reuters

Shannon Gabriel is going to charge in yet again this morning.

• Simon Mann
• Andy Zaltzman
• Kevin Howells
• Ebony Rainford Brent
• Stephan Shemilt
• Matthew Hoggard
• Ben Cajee

Stokes may have just clobbered a boundary but Kemar Roach reminds us that this is not a flat pitch. A short-ish ball from the West Indian leaps up and moves away nastily. Joe Root doesn't really get near it and is giggling away to himself after seeing the ball do so much.

I bet he wouldn't be laughing if his team weren't 455 ahead!

Image source, Reuters

Well Ben Stokes has made it pretty clear England are going to get on with this.

He cuts his first ball hard, straight to a fielder.

He steps down the pitch and bashes his second over the bowler's head for four.

Adam Mountford
Radio 5 live in St Lucia

No update so far on the West Indies' injured players.

Coach Richard Pybus suggested to me last night that the finger injury suffered by Darren Bravo shouldn’t be an issue, but he wasn’t as confident about Keemo Paul who suffered a nasty looking quadricep muscle injury.

There was no sign of Paul in the warm-up sessions this morning.

I asked Pybus if he expected him to bat in the second innings and he said “Let’s see”.

Kemar Roach starts us off and Joe Root adds a single straight away from the first delivery.

Alastair Cook
Former England captain on The Cricket Social

If it is a homophobic comment, he (Gabriel) has crossed the line. The players know that. You know the responsibility when you represent your country but we are all humans. He's said something which - we think - is totally unacceptable and unfortunately he must be punished for it.

Play will be getting under way any minute now.

Joe Root and Ben Stokes are walking to the crease in bright sunshine.

England are batting on.

Image source, Getty Images

Alastair Cook
Former England captain on The Cricket Social

Whatever has been said, it's not great. There's no way I can defend it - and I want to stress I am not defending it - but he (Gabriel) might have said it and instantly regretted it.

You are trying to hard to win a game for your country and sometimes emotions can get the better of you.

It's an interesting conversation - should stump mics be turned off so it doesn't become the talking point? It's taken everything away from Joe Root's very fine hundred.

(Race and sexuality) is a no-go area, there is no excuse for that kind of comment.

Image source, Reuters

Many of you will have already seen this story.

West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was warned by the umpires yesterday for the language he used following an incident with Joe Root.

TV footage shared on social media appeared to show Root responding to a comment from Gabriel by saying: "There is nothing wrong with being gay."

The original comment by Gabriel was not picked up and Root refused to explain after play exactly what was said.

Read more here

Alastair Cook
Former England captain on The Cricket Social

I would expect England to win today. If West Indies manage to take it into tomorrow, it's a good effort on their part really. From the moment they won the toss and bowled first, they gave England the advantage in this game.

You can listen to today's Cricket Social by clicking the audio icon at the top of this page.

England's James Anderson, speaking to Sky Sports about the prospect of the declaration: "We have talked about it. There are still two days to go and we want to make sure we bat West Indies out of the game but we know we have to give ourselves a chance to bowl them out.

"It is not the worst pitch. There are no signs of it doing a huge amount. The new ball in each innings has done something. With the captain at the crease he will want to get his average as high as possible.

"We know we will have to be patient at times. It will not be a walkover for us. It will be hard."

Alastair Cook
Former England captain on The Cricket Social

I’d imagine England will bat for 30 or 45 mins, maybe another 10 overs and then unleash the bowlers who have had some rest.

They’ll be desperate to finish the series with a victory, possibly completed today.

I think I'd be batting on until around half an hour before lunch and then having a short burst at West Indies before the interval.

What do you think England should do?

Should they have already declared? Should they do so right now? Should they keep going?

Let us know at #bbccricket or text 81111.