Cook shines in bad light of Lord's afternoon

First Test, Lord's (Day 1)

England 200-3 v West Indies

By Chris O'Keefe

Alistair Cook scored his fifth century of his still relatively short test career and showed a maturity at the crease that exceeds his 22 years of age as England clung to control of the opening test of the series.

It was an innings of good balls left well and bad balls belted to the fence and there was many of the latter early on as Cook and stand in captain Andrew Strauss put on 88 for the first wicket at an overcast Lord's already held back by the morning shower. The West Indies pace attack were wayward and spurned Ramnaresh Sarwan's decision to put England into bat. When they did strike England, and specifically Cook were settled and looking ominous as England only looked to defeat themselves.

Strauss gave away his wicket, playing off balance off the bowling of Daren Powell and providing a dolly for Devon Smith to take the first of three catches in the afternoon and evening sessions. Owais Shah, given a chance to stake his claim was squared up by Powell and left for only 6 and a saw head after taking a blow from a West Indies throw.

Suddenly England were being tested and needed to respond. Enter Kevin Pietersen, who with Cook (still plodding away) put on 59 to take England through tea and gloomy light according to the umpires, but not some of the fans.

Pietersen fell to Corey Collymore, who pitched up seemed to wait for the mistake. Pietersen obliged and chipped an innocuous looking ball to Smith in covers, 162-3 was giving England something to think about on Peter Moores first day in the coach's seat. Should he have picked Shah to bat three? Why was Bell batting six despite his relative experience?

Cook was still steaming towards his century, waiting for bad balls to come and they continued. His century came off a full toss from Daren Powell and it was complete. Cook briefly mentioned the possibility getting a double-century tomorrow, but with this ability and the attitude of a man that will take some stopping, he may get it.

The beauty for English fans is that he is still learning the game and yet his conversion rate equates to one century in every three tests. A stunning knock that could even be overshadowed by the light meters of the umpires that so infuriated the spectators who were only treated to 56 of the scheduled 90 overs. Those who are fortunate enough to have a ticket tomorrow (and by all accounts they may still be available) may be treated to far more, including a major England lead.

Picture: Keiran Galvin (Getty Images)

English limp into Lord's expecting to win

First npower Test, Lord's
England v West Indies

Chris O'Keefe

The winter was certainly one of discontent, carnage and little reward for an England side needing to remember what they are capable of. However, a new coach, new players and a new season could help change that.

Whatever the faults England could find in Australia and the Caribbean, they are still favourites against a West Indies side, minus a the legend and often the catalyst in Brian Lara and minus a decent preparation coming up to this game. In many ways the undercooked nature of the England side before the start of the Ashes is mirrored here. A shaky start against Somerset, which eventually succumbed to the heavens is all Ramnaresh Sarwan's team have to build on since the World Cup.

In addition to that, West Indian players are subject to curfew which haven't been so universally received by the players. Chris Gayle certainly believes he would do things differently, however it could be suggested that it is for players like Gayle, who are sometimes criticised for not focusing entirely on the cricketing task in hand. This is far from a side to rank with the great touring West Indian side of the past.

Simon Hughes may well be right when he implied that this series may be over by the beginning of June, such being the stresses of modern international cricket were teams patch up and move on to the next game. The game's powers that be have sacrificed the sanctity of quality top level competition, to profit from the frequency of such events which rarely touch the heights they actually should.

Simon Jones, Michael Vaughan, Ashley Giles and Flintoff to name just four have fell to the physical pressure the relentless calandar comes with. Marcus Trescothick is still trying make a comeback from frequent stress related problems exacerbated by the game in the current state. It doesn't read like a clash of the titans so far!

Come Thursday morning, England will start favourites to win and win comfortably if they hit the straps. That such a side with it's own psychological doubts, and physical ones with Flintoff as an example limping towards selection rather than bullishly may reflect in the attendances at Lord's. England v West Indies was once a ticket resembling golddust will be readily available on the day.

It's a sad reflection of the opposition's fall from grace, but more so the overdone occasion that once had it's place at the same time of the year as Wimbledon as a tradition, now dragged into a grey May week for the benefit of the accounts.

Picture: Getty Images (via Cricinfo.com)