England in command

Captain Andrew Strauss struck his 16th Test hundred to put in England in control of their must-win fourth Test against West Indies in Barbados on Thursday.Strauss and Alastair Cook shared England's first double-century opening stand for more than four years -- although once their partnership of 229 came to its conclusion minutes after tea, the runs dried up. England totally dominated the first two sessions only to be pegged back by a loss of wickets in a turgid evening period, and closed on 301 for three. Strauss was dismissed for 142 in spectacular manner by fast bowler Daren Powell to provide a breakthrough in the 65th over of a bat-dominated opening day. A full delivery demolished Strauss' stumps to provide Powell with some joy after much suffering. Opening partner Cook then perished five overs later, six short of a hundred, when he mis-hit a pull off Jerome Taylor which was clutched by a diving Ryan Hinds at midwicket.  It continued Cook's run of failing to register a Test century to 27 innings and to add to the frustration this was the 11th time he has got halfway there without converting. Owais Shah returned to the Test team at Antigua with a half-century, but appeared nervous this time around and perished, after spending 47 balls over seven, when he chopped a delivery from Benn to slip.