Second test of the two-match series between England and West Indies started at Riverside Stadium, Chester-Le-Street on Thursday.  England having won the toss, were 302 for 2 at stumps.

Essex batsmen Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara both struck centuries as England compiled 302-2 on day one. Cook played solidly and passed 100 with his 11th four from his 209th delivery and finished the day unbeaten on 120.

Bopara became only the fifth England batsman to score three successive Test centuries before being bowled for 108 to end a 213-run partnership. Skipper Andrew Strauss (26) fell before lunch, caught behind off Chris Gayle.

England hoped for a batting paradise on a hard surface but there was an immediate lack of pace in the pitch, and several early deliveries dribbled through to the wicket keeper.

There were only four boundaries in the first hour but the openers applied themselves admirably in textbook fashion, taking the shine off the new ball, although they were allowed to leave numerous balls wide of the off stump.

Cook played watchfully to record his ninth Test century, finishing unbeaten on 126 from 262 balls with 14 fours. He shared 213 with Bopara, who moved into the 90s with a four, six and four and became only the fifth Englishman to make three successive Test hundreds.

Bopara, playing in his sixth Test, followed England greats Herbert Sutcliffe, Denis Compton, Geoffrey Boycott and Graham Gooch in achieving the feat. The 24-year-old Essex batsman, who lists Gooch as one of his heroes, has had a remarkable Test career.

Having been dropped after making three ducks in Sri Lanka in 2007, he finally returned to the team with a century in the Caribbean last winter, only to be omitted to make way for an extra bowler, but then returned again with a century at number three at Lord's last week.

His century at the Riverside was a marvellous innings full of inventive stroke play, and - following his stint in the Indian Premier League - proof that the T-20 format can have a positive influence on the five-day game. Cook 126 and James Anderson 4 were at the crease when the bails were off for first day.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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