Bopara stars on opening day

Date released: 6 May 2009

Ravi Bopara's century rescues England from a perilous position against the West Indies on day one of the Test. Follow all the action live tommorrow on Lords.org.

• Late gate ticket news
• Thursday's ticket news

First day summary

England close on 289-7
West Indies won the toss.

Batsmen: Ravi Bopara (118) & Graeme Swann (7)
Bowlers: Pavilion End: Fidel Edwards
Nursery End: Jerome Taylor
Day one - full scorecard (61 KB)

Over-by-over

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6:32pm That's the conclusion of our over-by-over coverage for the day too. Be sure to join us tommorrow for the very latest from the Test Match, live from Lord's. Coverage starts at 10am.

6:24pm Warm applause for Ravi Bopara - what a Lord's debut for the young batsman. 118 not out and he'll be back tomorrow to try and increase the number which will appear against his name on the Lord's Honours Board.

A good reception for West Indies' star performer, Fidel Edwards, too. Four wickets for the seamer mean he'll be back tomorrow trying to clinch a five-wicket haul and a place on the Honours Board for himself.

You can be here tomorrow, there are still tickets available:

• Thursday's ticket news

6:20pm 90th over: Last over of the day and, fittingly, it's Edwards to bowl it.

That's the close of the first day's play.

England 289-7 at the close

6:14pm 89th over: Gayle swiftly removes himself from the attack again, Jerome Taylor returns as the West Indies look to kill off the England innings on the first day.

Graeme Swann sees off most of the over but swings at the penultimate one and gets a four.

Just a few overs left of the day's play. What do you make of it? Send us your emails - tell us what you think. Who is the star of the day? Bopara? Or Edwards?

6:09pm 88th over: Gayle ditches the double-spin attack as soon as I've mentioned it. Edwards back on, this time at the Pavilion End. He's still looking for his fifth wicket of the innings.

6:06pm 87th over: Gayle brings himself back into the attack from the Nursery End. A double-ended spin attack from the West Indies now.

Bopara nudges an easy two and then hammers the next ball for four.

6:01pm 86th over: The umpires steer clear of one another at the end of the previous over. The clouds are quite dark now and the snapping wind of earlier in the day has dropped off a little.

Benn still on at the Pavilion End - and he has Bresnan trapped plumb LBW. Umpire Steve Davis didn't even hesitate before raising the finger and Bresnan heads back to the Pavilion.

England 275-7 - Bresnan LBW b. Benn - 9

Swann's off the mark with his first ball, running two.

5:56pm 85th over: A wide and two leg byes keep the scoreboard ticking over. There's bat on that one though - and Bresnan runs two.

Concerns over the light now. Those clouds I mentioned are quite dark. The umpires confer but the players are staying out for now.

5:53pm 84th over: Bresnan's off the mark with a single - a follows it up with a boundary. Clearly not lacking in confidence, on his Test debut.

5:49pm 83rd over: Bopara moves to 111 - all the ones. A cloud cover finally breaks what has been almost non-stop sunshine at Lord's. Don't worry - no sign of rain, yet.

5:44pm 82nd over: Broad's gone. Slashing at one that sat up from Benn - he drove it straight to Taylor who took a good catch in the covers.

England 262-6 - Broad c. Taylor b. Benn - 38

At last, a sight of a debutant. Tim Bresnan comes out to bat.

5:38pm 81st over: Jerome Taylor is back on to bowl from the Nursery End, replacing Baker - that breaks our B-theme.

5:35pm 80th over: It's all the B's in action. Benn bowling to Broad; with Baker and Bopara the other participants.

Baker has a caught and bowled chance! But even his 6'7" frame cannot get up to that one in time - he gets fingers to it but another chance goes down.

5:28pm 79th over: Bopara looks far less edgy now, having got the century out of the way.

Another smooth strike sees Baker to the boundary for four.

5:28pm 78th over: Four more from Broad who moves to 36 taking him past 500 runs in his Test career.

5:24pm 77th over: Another edge and another chance goes begging. Baker bowling to Bopara this time - dropped at second slip by Smith.

5:21pm 76th over: Broad is placing the ball very well, without trying to hit the cover off it. Another well placed shot brings him another boundary.

5:16pm 75th over: There it is! The Lord's crowd are on their feet. A century for Bopara!

He gets a standing ovation; a hug from Broad and his helmet is off as he salutes the crowd. Well played. Consecutive centuries for Bopara against the West Indies.

5:14pm 74th over: One from Broad puts Bopara back on strike. There's a gentleman in the Edrich Stand below me, crouching like a slip fielder - urging Bopara to clobber it for six in his direction!

Bopara's not tempted though and takes another easy single to move to 99 not out.

5:09pm 73rd over: Baker replaces Edwards at the Nursery End. As he's about to hit his delivery stride, Broad steps back from the wicket - it looks like a fly was bothering him!

Broad places that one well, bisecting two fielders on the off side and the batsmen run three.

5:06pm 72nd over: It's still Benn bowling from the Pavilion End. Bopara's just three runs from his century. He settles for a sharply struck single.

5:02pm A drinks break and time for Bopara to steel himself as he persues a place on the Lord's Honours Board. Edwards is only one wicket away from having his named added to the Boards too.

4:58pm 71st over: The nervous-90s seem to be lasting an age for Bopara who must keep his cool if he's to notch a century in his first Test Match at Lord's.

Broad shoulders the scoring responsibilities, drilling a rare loose ball from Edwards for four.

4:55pm 70th over: Sulieman Benn, the spinner returns to bowl from the Pavilion End.

4:48pm 69th over: Three slips and a gully in place as Edwards bowls to Broad - and has him playing and missing at the last ball of the over.

4:44pm 68th over: One of the Windies coaching staff is trotting around the outfield to chat to Edwards who is fieldng at long leg now. Poor chap, he probably needs a pick me up after that chance. It really looked like a gift for Gayle.

That won't help. Bopara clips that off his legs and Edwards is the fielder who has to collect it from over the rope.

4:39pm 67th over: That single does mean Broad has to face Fidel Edwards - who is still looking for his fifth wicket. Edwards seems a little too keen, slinging down one ball which is fielded by the slips.

And another dropped chance! Edwards finds Broad's edge it looks to be going straight into Gayle's hands... but it bounces out! Smith tries to dive in and catch the dropped ball but he too juggles and drops it! Edwards cannot believe his luck.

That was a real let off for Broad. Poor Fidel Edwards - that's two catchable chances that have been missed from his bowling.

4:36pm 66th over: Broad eagerly takes a quick single and lets Bopara have most of the strike.

4:31pm 65th over: The England batsmen are wary of Edwards, happy to play defensively - and quite right too.

4:23pm 64th over: Baker returns to the attack, replacing Simmons - and Broad cuts him away for three runs.

4:23pm 63rd over: Great backfoot drive from Broad adds four more to the total.

A dash of over confidence from Broad now as he cuts at one - it flies at Benn in the gully who can't quite hold on to it - a chance gone.

4:22pm The West Indies must be wishing there was another break due - after each break in play today, Edwards has returned and taken wickets.

What do you think? - send us your emails.

4:18pm 62nd over: Broad watches a couple go by as Simmons tries to tempt him. He patiently waits for one he can hit and cuts it for four.

A wide from Simmons brings up 200 for England.

Fewer than 200 runs on the board and the West Indies are into England's tail already. Albeit England will hope it's a long tail with Broad, Bresnan and Swann all able to bat a bit - but it is not the start they would have hoped for.

What do you think? - send us your emails.

4:13pm 61st over: A fourth wicket for Edwards! Prior is gone, caught in the covers for 42.

England 193-5 - Prior c. Simmons b. Edwards - 42

Edwards is appealing for Broad's wicket, LBW - but the umpire says no. He's looking very dangerous Edwards. He's in the hunt for a five-for in this innings - by far the stand-out bowler of the day.

4:11pm 60th over: A decent over from Simmons.

4:07pm 59th over: Gayle replaces himself at the Pavilion End with Lendl Simmons. Edwards is still shaking his head at that missed chance.

Bopara clips that one off his legs and it's four runs this time as he edges England closer to 200.

4:03pm 58th over: Fidel Edwards is back into the attack after the tea interval.

Oh - that's a dropped catch. Bopara chopped that ball from Edwards to Nash at square leg and a simple looking chance goes down.

Tickets for Thursday

Ticket news, hot from the Lord's Ticket Office: There are still tickets available for tomorrow - starting at just £25. Prices range from: £25; £40; £55 and £60 - and are all available from the North Gate in Wellington Place - first come, first served - cash only, to make it as speedy as possible for everyone.

That tea interval brings those cheap, late-gate tickets into play - there's still time for you to watch some Test Match cricket today.

If you can't make it, why not send us an email? What do you make of the match? Can Bopara and Prior save England after their terrible post-lunch wobble?

3:42pm That's Tea. England 182-4.

3:35pm 57th over: Simmons is, at last, bowling a little straighter now, nothing unduly troubling but he is at least making the batsmen play it.

Another boundary for Prior - a little more risky that one as Simmons starts to look more dangerous, but four runs all the same.

The scoreboard shows that was Matt Prior's 1000th Test run.

3:33pm 56th over: Gayle's obviously feeling confident - he's brought himself on to bowl from the Pavilion End.

3:29pm 55th over: Gayle's tinkering with his field settings now, trying to unsettle Prior and Bopara. Just one slip but a gully, point and short point in position now.

And it's Gayle himself with a good stop at short point to deny Prior what looked a certain four.

3:26pm 54th over: Prior's really finding his feet now and moving them well too. Stepping out to Benn, to nudge that away for another boundary.

3:22pm 53rd over: There's that bowling change at last. Simmons on for Taylor and the new bowler has Bopara swigning wildly at some wide bowling.

Some wayward bowling from Simmons - and finally he's called for a wide.

Finally one that can be hit and Prior gives it the treatment - four runs.

3:19pm 52nd over: More smart bowling and smart fielding on the leg side restricts England to singles from Benn's bowling. That's the fifty partnership though.

3:14pm 51st over: Taylor still looks tired to my inexpert eye but his skipper Chris Gayle is showing no obvious signs of calling for a change of bowling. Taylor just looks to be lacking the zip of earlier spells - certainly not the speed with which he took the wicket of Strauss.

Prior's spotted it too as he carves that away for four. He had a couple of "practice" goes at that shot, sizing up Taylor before taking the offered width for four runs.

3:12pm 50th over: Another boundary by Bopara brings up 150 for England.

3:08pm 49th over: More tight bowling has the England batsmen on the defensive.

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3:05pm 48th over: Just one off the over and England's batsmen have a chat halfway down the pitch. Prior's settled well enough, Bopara's scored a fairly chance-free 50. These two need to score heavily to help England out here.

3:00pm 47th over: The clock under Father Time says we're bang on 3pm. Forty minutes until those cheap, late gate tickets go on sale.

Taylor's looking quite tired. With Baker "bowling boundaries" what does Chris Gayle have in the West Indies' locker?

2:57pm 46th over: Half way through today's scheduled 90 overs... will England last that long?

Send us your emails - what do you think of the match so far? Are you enjoying our coverage?

Short leg and just the one slip for Benn, bowling to Bopara. The slip has a long chase for that one though, tickled away for four.

2:53pm 45th over: Baker is straight back out of the attack, after going for 12 in an over. Taylor is back on at the Nursery End.

2:51pm 44th over: Benn is still neat and tidy, keeping the pressure on the batsmen.

2:46pm 43rd over: Baker is back in the attack, replacing three-wicket Edwards, who has earned a rest.

Prior welcomes him with a boundary.

Four more for Prior who is starting to look more settled.

2:39pm 42nd over: That boundary brings up fifty for Bopara. What a response to his call-up from the Essex batsman. Warm applause all around Lord's.

2:35pm 41st over: Edwards perhaps a little too fired-up now, as that no-ball gets hit for four by Prior.

Man of the moment: Fidel Edwards
- click for more photos 2:31pm 40th over: Man of the moment, Fidel Edwards (right) as captured by our man on the spot, Matt Bright.

Benn still bowling from the Pavilion End and the Windies really have their tails up now.

The next wicket down will see one of England's five-man attack stride out to bat.

2:25pm 39th over: Edwards has his third victim! Collingwood giving the edge this time and caught, low down in the slips.

England 109-4 - Collingwood c. Smith b. Edwards - 8

Matt Prior, the wicketkeeper, comes in to bat at number six. Another big test for an England player. Prior's shown good form for his county - can he replicate it on the international stage?

2:22pm 38th over: "Big Benn" - Sulieman Benn returns to bowl from the Pavilion End, replacing Taylor.

First ball and he has a big appeal (at 6'7" would he have another kind?) for LBW against Bopara but nothing doing for the umpire.

2:17pm 37th over: Collingwood looks a little less edgy after that smart boundary.

He's still not 100% comfortable though. Hardly surprising against Edwards, who's still fired up from his two-wicket haul. More movement for the quick bowler has Collingwood guessing at that delivery.

Late gate ticket news

There will be a late gate admission to the Ground today. After the tea interval (3:40pm) adults can get in for just £15. Under 16s can get in free. Knocking off school, college or work early today? Get down to Lord's!

Tickets are on sale from the North Gate in Wellington Place. Despite being free, under 16s must still collect a ticket from the North Gate.

2:10pm 36th over: Bopara settles some jangling England nerves with a smoothly driven four - thats 100 up for England.

Talking of nerves, Collingwood is looking as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs at the moment - and well he might, facing two 90mph+ bowlers, fired up by two quick wickets.

2:06pm 35th over: Could this be the first hattrick at Lord's for nearly 40 years? Hold your breath...

It's not to be. Our hattrick icon will have to remain under wraps - for now. Paul Collingwood will be glad to have seen that one off.

Three slips, a gully and a short leg all in place as the West Indies crank up the pressure on Collingwood.

2:01pm 34th over: A horrible few minutes for England there, two of their better batsmen gone in two balls. Edwards will start the next over on a hattrick. Perhaps David's email from earlier was a sign?

Scenting blood, Windies captain Gayle brings Taylor back on at the Pavilion End.

Collingwood off the mark with two runs.

1:53pm 33rd over: Late movement off the seam there for Edwards but it started well wide of the batsman and moved away from him - no danger there.

A no-ball and a single run from it edge England closer to three figures.

Suddenly Cook's stumps are in a mess. Edwards rips one down and Cook edges it on - and he's out.

England 92-2 - Cook b. Edwards - 35

Pietersen barely had time to scrape his mark on the pitch! Edwards bowls a magnificent one, Pietersen has to dab at it and edges it behind. He's gone for a golden duck! A chance to show off another of our new icons.

England 92-3 - Pietersen c. Ramdin b. Edwards - 0

1:49pm 32nd over: A couple of singles from that over breaks the cycle - much to Nash's pitch-kicking frustration.

1:45pm 31st over: It's the zippy, slingy action of Fidel Edwards, back at the Nursery End. A maiden for Edwards too as the England batsmen feel their way back in after lunch.

1:42pm 30th over: Hope you had a nice lunch? Players are back on the field and it's Brendan Nash who comes on to bowl at the Pavilion End.

Nash's first over is a maiden.

Iconic: The Investec Media Centre can be hired for private functions The media ladies and gents eat very well up here in the Investec Media Centre. The Lord's catering really is top-notch. Did you know you can hire the Investec Media Centre for your own event? Find out more.

1:21pm Latest estimates from MCC suggest the crowd today is around 15-16,000. When there is "late gate" news (reduced price tickets for the after Tea session - ideal for those just leaving the office!) you'll read it here first.

There are also still tickets left for tomorrow and indeed Friday. Tickets go on sale each day at the North Gate from 9am. First come, first served. Cash only too.

1:02pm And that's lunch.

England 88-1 at lunch

We're expected back around 1:40pm - if that helps you time your dash to the sandwich shop or canteen. What do make of the opening session of the English summer?

Send us your emails. A solid start from England? What of the England line-up? Two debutants - can England take 20-wickets in this Test?

12:59pm 29th over: Edge from Bopara... but it beats the slips and that's four runs.

12:55pm 28th over: Baker (who's in a long spell after coming on in the 10th over) bowling what's likely to be the last over before lunch. Nothing much doing in that one... and we've time for another over before lunch by the looks of things.

12:52pm 27th over: With Benn still at the Nursery End we should get this and perhaps one more over before lunch.

That bye brings up the fifty partnership for Cook and Bopara. Bopara celebrates by slashing the next ball for four.

12:49pm 26th over: We're edging closer to the lunch break (scheduled for 1pm) and the England batsmen look happy to see this out until then.

Classic commentator's curse - Bopara steps over that one from Baker and it almost zipped back onto his stumps... it went just over the bails.

12:45pm 25th over: Another maiden for Benn's figures, England's batsmen not tempted to have a swing at the spinner.

Ravi Bopara settled well, scoring consistently
- click for more photos 12:43pm 24th over: More tight bowling from Baker slows England down again.

12:39pm 23rd over: Another LBW appeal, from Benn this time. It's half-hearted though and not out is the verdict again - this time from umpire Asoka de Silva.

Both on field umpires are making their Test debut at Lord's, as are a few others:

• Debutants in line for Lord's

12:35pm 22nd over: Baker has a big shout for LBW against Cook there, all the slips jump up too but umpire Steve Davis doesn't even flinch. Not out.

12:32pm 21st over: Three runs from that over but it gets England moving again.

Your emails - we've got the answer David, our stat-fans are on form. Word has it that there have been 11 Test Match hattricks (three wickets taken in three balls for the uninitiated) since 2000.

England's Ryan Sidebottom was the last man to achieve the feat, against New Zealand in 2008. You have to go back to 1960 for the last one here at Lord's, taken by a South African, Geoffrey Griffin. His hattrick-clinching victim? One Fred Trueman.

12:27pm 20th over: Another maiden, for Baker this time as the batsmen start to get bogged down.

12:27pm 19th over: A maiden for Benn that time - the England batsmen not willing to risk the big strokes against the spinner, yet.

Your emails are coming in waves now - keep them coming! David in London asks: "How many hatricks have been bowled in Test match cricket since 2000? Just wondering how often it actually happens?"

Off the top of my head David, I don't know. But I'll find out!

12:23pm 18th over: Bopara thunders that one back down past Baker and it runs almost directly into the gate to the Pavilion.

12:20pm 17th over: Nudges and singles for the batsmen there as Benn twirls down that over.

Your emails We're getting lots of compliments on our new icons. We hope they help you keep track of the match action. Credit to our crack team of designers here at MCC - they look great don't they? The icons that is...

12:15pm 16th over: A maiden for Baker, still bowling from the Pavilion End.

12:08pm 15th over: The big spinner is on - all 6'7" of Sulieman Benn replaces Taylor from the Nursery End.

12:11pm Your emails - Mark in London is feeling confident: "If it does not rain - England will win the series easily. England may have under achieved in the West Indies, but with a bit of luck the results could have been different."

12:08pm 14th over: Bopara knocks off three runs and England are away again after the short interval.

12:04pm And that's the drinks break. Fifty on the board for England but one wicket down.

How do you think it's going? Send us your emails. Can England win the first Test of a Series, for the first time in what seems likes eons?

12noon 13th over: Three runs for Bopara bring up 50 for England.

Strauss watches Ramdin take a great catch
- click for more photos Our on-the-spot photographer, Matt Bright is sending us live match action photos - like this great snap of Andrew Strauss watching on as Ramdin takes the catch to dismiss him. Click on the photo to see more match action.

11:55am 12th over: A neat cut shot from Cook ruins Baker's run-less start, four runs.

11:51am 11th over: A maiden for Taylor now as the Windies bowlers step it up a notch.

11:48am 10th over: Edwards is off at the Pavilion End, replaced by Baker.

A maiden over for Baker to start with as the batsmen size up the new bowler.

Remember to keep your emails coming in to us: send us your emails. How do you think the match is shaping up so far? What're your predictions? Will Bopara succeed at number three?

11:42am 9th over: Another boundary, to Cook this time. The Essex and now England team-mates looking good.

Four more for Cook now, the famous Lord's slope just beating the fielder.

11:38am 8th over: Bopara's off the mark in style. Four runs, clipped off his legs.

11:33am 7th over: Strauss is gone. He slashed at that one from Taylor and Ramdin took a great diving catch behind the stumps.

England 28-1 - Strauss c. Ramdin b. Taylor - 16

That brings out Ravi Bopara a little earlier than he might have liked - but a great opportunity for the Essex batsman.

Taylor's getting definite movement away from the batsman - right-hander Bopara almost edging the first ball he faced.

11:24am 6th over: Half a scare there. Strauss drops one at his feet and as the batsmen try and run a cheeky single, Cook gets tangled up with Edwards on his follow-through run and is nearly run out.

Cook's clearly not affected though. Four more to England's total, his first boundary.

11:18am 5th over: First boundary of the day and Strauss scores it - hitting Taylor straight back down the ground.

Make that two... four more to Strauss into the on side this time.

11:14am 4th over: Edwards and Taylor having their own race to 90mph... Edwards clocks another at 89mph. Cook and Strauss keep the scoreboard ticking over, without being spectacular and why should they? A solid start.

11:08am 3rd over: A no ball from Taylor who over-stepped the mark there. He did get it to zip up off the pitch though, making Cook fence it down to his own feet. Taylor edging closer to 90mph as he gets into his stride.

11:04am 2nd over: Fidel Edwards will bowl from the Pavilion End. Still three slips and a gully - but also a short-leg fielder for Edwards's.

Three more for Strauss, similar shot to his last three.

11:00am 1st over: Andrew Strauss will face the first ball of the match and Jerome Taylor is going to open the bowling, from the Nursery End.

Three slips and a gully in place as Strauss watches the first few balls go by without offering a shot.

First runs of the match; of the summer! Strauss prods one into the on side and they run three.

10:57am West Indies legend Michael Holding rings the five minute bell... and moments later the teams are on the pitch. Warm applause around Lord's as the sides take their positions. Here we go folks...

10:50am A special prize (or at least the warm glow of recognition) for the first email of the day. Matt in London says: "With you all the way on the live coverage... as ever your coverage is a life saver for those of us that can't make it. Keep up the good work."

Thanks Matt. Here's to a good day's play and, with a touch of the partisan in me, a solid start to the summer for England.

Keep on sending us your emails - we read them all and will publish the best here, in our over-by-over coverage.

10:41am Team line-ups are confirmed (left) and we're less than 20 minutes away from the start of the first Test of the summer.

Interesting decision that, Gayle's to bowl. Strauss says he'd have bowled first too. The pitch does look to have a touch of green about it, there's a gentle breeze across the pitch from north to south (Grand Stand to Mound Stand if you know your Lord's geography) too.

It means we'll have to wait a while to see the debutants, Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions bowl too - though they'll be out on the pitch soon to receive their caps (literally) from captain, Andrew Strauss.

10:31am West Indies win the toss and elect to field.

10:30am Another hint at the England line-up. All the England players are back in the dressing room. All except Monty Panesar, who is chatting to spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed on the outfield.

If England don't play both Bresnan and Onions (for their Test debuts) I'll eat my Investec Media Centre mug.

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10:27am Our resident experts on the laws write a column for Wisden magazine, which also features on this website. Check out our Ask the Laws Department section and send us any queries you have about this great game.

Send us your emails - we've got experts on the laws; specialist cricket historians; statisticians - you name it. Whatever your question on cricket, MCC and Lord's is the place to find the answer.

10:19am Remember to send us your emails - we can give you access to some of the brightest minds in cricket. MCC are guardian of the laws of cricket, so if you have any questions on the laws, let us know.

Any other questions? Let us know. If we don't know the answer, we will know someone that does. Send us your emails.

10:14am Graham Onions is taking a long time to mark out his run-up, in the biggest hint yet that he'll be making his Test debut. That is, the biggest hint since Alastair Cook said there would be two debutants in his column in this morning's newspapers.

10:04am What can you read into a warm-up? England skipper Andrew Strauss spoke yesterday about "taking all your chances". England coach (in all but job title) Andy Flower is working with the slip cordon: Matt Prior (the wicketkeeper) and five slips taking practice catches.

If it gives any sign, England's fielders haven't dropped a practice catch yet.

9:59am There are so many familiar sights for the first Test of the summer. Both teams are warming-up on the outfield; Mick Hunt and his groundstaff team are giving the grass a final trim; the Sky TV team are out on the pitch ready for the toss and pitch report - it's all here.

We're about an hour away from the start of play. Best news of the day is, the weather forecast is good. Warm, sunny and dry all day, with any luck.

08:57am Latest team news: England: Cook; Strauss; Bopara; Pietersen; Collingwood; Prior; Broad; Swann; Bresnan; Onions; Anderson.

West Indies: Gayle; Simmons; Sarwan; Nash; Chanderpaul; Ramdin; Sammy; Taylor; Benn; Baker; Edwards.

Those are the teams most are expecting though they won't be confirmed until the toss.

Andrew Strauss was playing his cards close to his chest in yesterday's press conference insisting that playing two spinners was still an option. If England pick both spinners (Swann and Panesar) it will be a big surprise.