Summary

  • First Test, Antigua

  • Eng 268-6: Bairstow 109*, Foakes 42; Holder 2-15, Seales 2-64, Roach 2-71

  • Bairstow brings up eighth Test ton off 190 balls

  • Foakes falls lbw to Holder for solid 42

  • Bairstow successfully overturns when given out caught behind on 59

  • England slip to 48-4 after winning toss

  1. Eng 51-4published at 19 overs

    Stokes helps himself to a single off Joseph. There is little to trouble the England batters but they are really struggling to get it off the square.

    A fella on stilts, draped in the colours of Antigua, is dancing away in the crowd. I feel nervous just watching him.

  2. Postpublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Antigua

    Holder is bowling beautifully - that methodical line and length for which he's renowned. Looking very rhythmical.

  3. Eng 50-4published at 18 overs

    Jason Holder bowls his third straight maiden. The seamer is varying his line and giving absolutely nothing away. England are taking absolutely no risks against him.

  4. Eng 50-4published at 17 overs

    Stokes prods off the back foot for a single. He's having to work hard out there - just two runs from his 28 deliveries so far.

    Bairstow is off the mark with a quick single of his own.

    There is a round of (probably ironic) applause as England reach 50.

  5. Eng 48-4published at 16 overs

    Bairstow sees off Jason Holder's remaining two deliveries.

    The short-term mission here for England is pretty simple: get through to lunch without losing another wicket.

  6. Postpublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    Tim Peach
    BBC Sport in Antigua

    There's a big cheer for Jonny Bairstow from the travelling England fans as he comes out to bat - they know he's a man who has dug England out from a crisis before.

  7. Postpublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Antigua

    Disappointing dismissal for Lawrence, who was showing some good judgement outside the off stump.

  8. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15.4 overs

    Lawrence c Blackwood b Holder 20 (Eng 48-4)

    Another one.

    Dan Lawrence had looked pretty solid today, but his time in the middle is over. Jason Holder bowls a fuller delivery, swinging away from the England batter. Lawrence reaches out and an outside edge goes straight to Jermaine Blackwood at second slip.

    The hangover from down under is still in full force.

  9. Eng 48-3published at 15 overs

    Stokes, wisely, is being very cautious here. There's a chance for England to run through for a leg-bye but the all-rounder - not entirely sure where the ball is - turns down Lawrence's call form the non-striker's end.

    Just the one from Joseph's over.

  10. Eng 47-3published at 14 overs

    A tidy over from Jason Holder. Straight line and decent length as Stokes comfortably blocks, leaves and nudges away the first five deliveries.

    Holder then almost reels Stokes in with one which shapes away to the left-hander.

    Maiden.

  11. Session timespublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    All times GMT

    Morning session: 14:00 - 16:00

    Afternoon session: 16:40 - 18:40

    Evening session: 19:00 - 21:00

  12. Postpublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    Tim Peach
    BBC Sport in Antigua

    The outfield is fast here at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium as the middle is raised higher than the boundary. Think of it like playing on an upturned saucer

  13. Eng 47-3published at 13 overs

    Lawrence 19, Stokes 1

    Alzarri Joseph turns his arm for the first time. His first delivery is played well by Lawrence who opens the face of the bat and sends it wide of gully for four.

    Joseph goes full and Lawrence leans in and clips through mid-wicket for three more.

    Stokes, meanwhile, is off the mark on his 14th delivery with a single. A loud cry of "no" echoes around the Sir Viv Richards stadium as Lawrence seeks a second. The last thing England want or need here is a run-out.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    Text 81111 (standard message rates apply)

    As the new club captain of Houghton & Wyton CC, I would like to invite the England team here for a preseason friendly at the end of April. We could do with a confidence booster before our season starts.

    Ash, Cambridge

  15. drinks break

    Eng 39-3published at 12 overs

    A first change in the bowling as Jason Holder is brought on. He offers some width to Stokes but the England batter can only find the fielder.

    Lord Botham is watching on in the stands. His eyes firmly glued to his phone. Wordle?

    Time for drinks.

  16. dropped catch

    Lawrence dropped on 8published at 11 overs

    Dropped catch or dropped short? I'm committing - it was a drop.

    Roach finds the edge of Lawrence's bat and Jermaine Blackwood - the man who dropped Root not long ago - can't get down quick enough as the ball races through the slips for four.

    England 39-3 having also survived two dropped catches. Sigh.

  17. Eng 34-3published at 10.1 overs

    Full, on the pads and a bit of a gift from Kemar Roach as Dan Lawrence flicks through square leg for four.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    #bbccricket

    Roach celebrates Root wicketImage source, Getty Images

    John C Hughes: When someone writes the book on the Root captaincy era they should call it 27-3.

  19. Eng 30-3published at 10 overs

    Lawrence clips Seales through mid-wicket for three.

    Earlier this week Ben Stokes said he felt like he had "let the team down" in Australia. He has an opportunity here to lead England's recovery and start to make amends.

    He's tested early on here with a vicious bouncer from Seales - Stokes leaning back and allowing the ball to go by.

    Seales has a few choice words for Stokes afterwards, but the all-rounder refuses to engage.

  20. Postpublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2022

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Antigua

    As a bowler, you really feel like you've earned that wicket. It was terrific bowling from Roach.

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images