Strauss ton puts England on top

Third Test, Antigua (day one, close):
West Indies v England 301-3

Strauss made the second-highest score of his international career

Andrew Strauss crafted a superb 15th Test century as England dominated day one of the hastily-arranged third Test against West Indies in Antigua.

The Antigua Recreation Ground pitch played unexpectedly true, allowing captain Strauss to capitalise in style.

Despite being put in to bat, he and Alistair Cook dominated the home attack before Cook (52) fell to Chris Gayle.

Owais Shah (57) was run out and Strauss finally departed for 169 but England reached an imposing 301-3 at the close.

Kevin Pietersen and night-watchman James Anderson will return to the middle on day two with the aim of helping their side, 1-0 down in the series following a humliating defeat in Jamaica, to a substantial total before they have a bowl at West Indies.

Strauss played with maturity and confidence from the outset, combining cautious defence with uncharacteristic flair and the odd stroke of fortune.

From both a team and personal point of view, Shah's contribution was also vital as he looked to cement a place at number three following his selection in preference to Ian Bell.

For many, it was an achievement to get the match started at all following the abandonment of the second Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium only two days earlier and the ARG staff had worked around the clock to get the venue and pitch fit for play.

Since the ground last hosted a Test match in June 2004, it has been used for football, which made for an uneven and paint-marked outfield and square.

It was expected that the pitch would offer pace and unpredictable bounce, so West Indies captain Chris Gayle's decision to bowl came as no surprise.

But openers Strauss and Cook made a tremendous start, the former tucking and then driving Edwards for two sweetly-struck boundaries in the second over.

Cook was forced to negotiate a couple of nasty short-pitched deliveries but the Essex left-hander was soon into his stride, pulling Jerome Taylor for a sumptuous four through midwicket.

The hosts squandered a chance to run Strauss out on nine but believed they had their man in the eighth over when a Daren Powell bouncer was diverted to Sulieman Benn at gully.

But TV replays suggesting the ball clipped Strauss's shoulder rather than his glove and umpire Rudi Koertzen ruled in his favour.

Strauss kept the boundaries flowing but was again spared when Gayle had a decent leg-before appeal rejected by umpire Daryl Harper.

Spinners Gayle and Benn gained little joy before lunch, which England reached on 58-0 wicket, but managed at least to slow the run-rate after the re-start.

Strauss should have been dismissed in the 29th over - Gayle dropping a straightforward catch at slip after Benn had induced an outside edge - but six balls later he took two runs off Taylor to reach his 15th Test half-century.

Powell was one of seven West Indies bowlers made to toil

England continued to make serene progress and the usually conservative Strauss lofted Benn for six to take the tourists past 100.

Cook almost got in on the act with a heave over midwicket that bounced just short of the rope and he chalked up his 17th Test fifty with a nudged single off Ryan Hinds.

But the 24-year-old has consistently struggled to convert half-centuries into hundreds and failed to do so again when he fell to a superb slip catch by Devon Smith off Gayle.

Of the 24 occasions Cook has now passed fifty, he has only gone on to reach three figures seven times and 13 of those knocks have ended between 50 and 70.

Fortunately for England, Shah proved more than capable of picking up the mantle and the first ball he faced, from Gayle, was cut for four.

At the other end Strauss ploughed on and after working Powell for two sensational fours either side of the wicket, he reached his century by flicking the same bowler around the corner for a single.

Shah's one lapse in concentration saw him run out

England reached 206-1 at tea and the final session started with Shah clubbing Benn back over his head for a maximum and driving him down the ground for four.

Gayle introduced spinning all-rounder Ryan Hinds and part-time medium-pacer Brendan Nash but, whichever way he turned, he could not halt England's charge.

Strauss simply grew in confidence with each of his 24 fours - although twice he almost played on attempting to hook - and Shah move to fifty with a pulled single off Edwards.

The Middlesex right-hander, playing his first Test since May 2007, had looked calm and assured but, with the runs drying up he suddenly lost his composure and attempted to take a quick single off Taylor.

Strauss was not interested and Shah was unable to regain his ground before Edwards followed through and ran him out.

With England scoring slowly, Gayle delayed taking the new ball but when he did it paid off with the wicket of Strauss, who attempted to pull a short ball by Edwards but this time mis-timed the stroke and lobbed a simple return catch.