England 342-8 (Broad 10, b Edwards) Broad misses a straight one, as Edwards clips the top of the bails. The West Indies side were out onto the Lord's turf early, strolling out to a smattering of warm applause from around the ground. Fidel Edwards started, bowling from the Nursery End, and hoped to maintain some of the movement he found this morning. He started with some filth that sent keeper Ramdin sprawling in front of first slip. Bell slapped another wide one to point for a single, before Broad was done by a full straight ball that keeps the Windies in the game. Think Broad was beaten by pace as the ball tickled the top of off. 1.34pm: So a good morning for the tourists, who finally managed to get the ball to talk. Much debate as to what caused that - the cloud cover, the choice of ball, the wind direction - but, whatever it was, it was much appreciated by the West Indies bowling attack. Fidel Edwards found the most movement but Roach was the pick of the bowlers, helping keep England's lead to around 100. If they can finish off the England tail end for less than 50-odd, they'll be very pleased indeed. Lunch: As the picnics are unpacked at Lord's, I'm off to see if anyone's stolen my lunch from the fridge. See you in a bit. 104th over: England 341-7 (Bell 38, Broad 10) Sammy drops it short, allowing Broad to step back and punch the ball nicely through the off side. There's a brief surge of adrenaline as Broad calls for a single, then Bell sends him back, before Sammy brings up lunch by hitting Broad on the toe in the last ball of the morning. A good morning for the tourists then, with 82 runs scored from the 23.4 overs of this session for the loss of 4 wickets. England scored at a run rate of 3.4ish, which probably isn't quite good enough. 103rd over: England 339-7 (Bell 38, Broad 8) Bell works a single off Gabriel to midwicket, then the bowler attempts a fast, short ball. Broad's eyes light up, he swishes the bat, and misses completely. The next ball, he does better, swinging the ball down to fine leg for a single that would have been a four but for Kemar Roach's excellent fielding. "I came across this lovely link this morning," emails Mark Lloyd. I'm minded to take a trip to Truro just to shake the great man's hand! A R Border b Old 0. And the most famous 29 in history. Great times! 102nd over: England 337-7 (Bell 37, Broad 7) Broad thrashes a short, wide ball to the cover boundary for one, clearly in the mood to score fast runs. Sammy puts another man in the gully for good measure. Bell is more circumspect, punching another single to off. Broad then rewards Sammy's field placement when a thickish edge rolls down to the squarer of the two gullies. 101st over: England 335-7 (Bell 36, Broad 6) Gabriel strays onto Bell's leg stump again, and again the batsman turns his wrists to run the ball for two to fine leg. Bell clips the ground on his next delivery, which causes a stifled appeal from behind the stumps, as Ramdin catches the ball. Next Bell works a short ball past backwards point for two before seeing out the rest of the over. This has certainly been the Windies session so far, they've restricted England's lead to 92 this morning which must have pleased them. Still, the ball is moving about a bit, so England's bowlers will have plenty of cause for optimism. 100th over: England 331-7 (Bell 32, Broad 6) Broad blocks one, flashes at another, then blocks a third, getting the same results: a dot ball. He then plonks a foot outside off and misses a fourth. Having had enough of all of that, he flashes at a fifth and edges it in the air, past gully and to the third man boundary somewhat streakily. 99th over: England 327-7 (Bell 32, Broad 2) Gabriel drifts down the leg and Bell swishes the ball away to fine leg, only missing out on a boundary by a smart, diving piece of fielding from Roach. Gabriel is chucking it down in the low 80s, and Bell misses out when he thumps a cut straight to point when, a foot or so either side, would have been a certain boundary. "Like the journey from Korma to Phal, the BBC seems to think that kids' telly has to get more exciting," emails Rob Jacques. I'm told an episode is in pre-production of Thomas in which Henry is pulling a flask of nuclear fuel en route for re-processing and is ambushed by an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell. England 323-7 (Bresnan 0, c Ramdin, b Sammy) Bresnan nicks one of Sammy's gentle outswingers to the keeper, and stomps off grumpily. Sammy had resumed, gently nibbling the ball away from the right-hander, not giving Bell much cause for concern. He leaned onto one for three, following the ball's medium-paced hoop then pushing it for three. But Bresnan simply hung his bat out to a short ball and helped it on its way to Ramdin. The only negative thing from the Windies point of view was the fact Sammy appeared to swallow a fly as he appealed. Broad finished the 98th over with a push for two. 97th over: England 320-6 (Bell 27, Bresnan 0) Bresnan weaves out of the way of a short ball, then sees out a maiden as a broad grin spreads over Gabriel's face as he struts off at the end of the over, his first Test wicket under his cap. England 320-6 (Prior 19, b Gabriel) Gabriel clinches his first Test wicket by pitching the ball up and, with Prior in attacking mood and attempting to play across the line, the ball goes straight through the gate and makes a mess of his stumps. The TV cameras then focus on him putting the ball back very gently against the window he smashed a few summers ago. 96th over: England 320-5 (Bell 27, Prior 19) Darren Sammy puts himself on from the pavilion end and Prior chinese cuts the ball to square leg for one from his second delivery. A couple of singles for each batsman follow. 95th over: England 317-5 (Bell 26, Prior 17) Bell stands up onto his toes, and cuts Gabriel efficiently to the point boundary for a neat four. It means this pair's partnership has yielded 25 runs from 28 balls, so it seems England are keen to get a foot on the gas. Bell then lets the rest of the over whizz past his off stump. "I've been banished to the kitchen with my laptop to read the Guardian OBO because, even though I pay for a subscription to watch the cricket, my two year old insists on watching Ben & Holly's little Kingdom," emails James McVey. "At least it's not Thomas the Tank Engine ..." There's nothing much wrong with Thomas the Tank Engine - the bigger problem is the new Postman Pat. They've changed Pat's voice! And given him a helicopter! Mrs Goggins doesn't know what's hit her. 94th over: England 313-5 (Bell 22, Prior 17) Roach bowls his seventh no ball of the innings, before Prior swishes a freeflowing leg side clip past mid-on to the boundary. He's a man in form at the moment, having batted well for Sussex recently. He proves it with another clip to square leg for two as he looks to score quickly. "Dear Freud," emails John Starbuck. The other point about discovering whether or not someone gets out because of their state of mind is that anyone can get good balls - make of that what you will. 93rd over: England 306-5 (Bell 22, Prior 11) Shannon Gabriel starts a spell from the Nursery End, rolling his bear-like neck like he's about to step into an ultimate fighting ring. Prior sneaks a single, then Bell miscues a pull which dribbles straight back past the bowler after hitting the bat high up. Got to feel a bit for the West Indies bowlers, an attack that's built on pace are bowling on a soggy old, early summer wicket. Problem is, they're not yet a good enough side to be allowed one of the later summer games during which they might reasonably expect a bit more bounce. Bet they're wishing they'd put a spinner in the side. 92nd over: England 303-5 (Bell 20, Prior 10) Roach continues, Prior nurdling a single that might have been two with sharper running. Bell sees out the over. A shame that Bairstow perished when he did. He had a nervy first over - and who wouldn't, making their debut in front of a sold out Lord's - but he seemed to have got into his stride. He was happy to play shots, swinging the bat, and looked good. Perhaps that was his problem, then. Maybe it was a false confidence brought on by nerves? Call me Freud. Ian Copestake has this to add: "I thought that in honour of Collingwood England had retired ginger." 91st over: England 302-5 (Bell 20, Prior 9) Darren Sammy comes on in place of Edwards as that low murmur begins to swell around a packed Lord's, pork pies and early pints slipping down around the old place. Bell takes a single from Sammy's first ball and, from his third, Prior drives him imperiously down the ground to the long-on boundary. A lovely way to get off the mark. He follows it with a flay off the back foot through the offside. He doesn't quite time it, but gets it through for two anyway. Clearly in the mood, he then flicks Sammy to leg for a three. England 292-5 (Bairstow 16, lbw Roach): The ball after he stroked Roach stunningly through the covers, Bairstow is caught lbw by Roach. Bell begun the over with a quick clip to point, then Bairstow drove classily to the cover boundary for a beautiful four. Just as he was beginning to look very comfortable, Roach brough the ball in from wide outside off and it would have jagged back to hit the leg stump. Bairstow thinks about reviewing, but trudges off instead - a good decision, he was out. 89th over: England 287-4 (Bell 18, Bairstow 12) In the Sky box Bumble is treating us to his gardening tips; on the pitch Edwards hurls a filthy one down the leg side. Bairstow then rides another short one for two down to fine leg. He gets another couple of short balls for his troubles, which he ignores. "Don't eat any lupin seeds," cautions Bumble apropos of nothing. 88th over: England 285-4 (Bell 18, Bairstow 10) Bell pushes another no ball from Roach through the covers for a single - that the bowler's fifth of the innings. Bairstow then punches Roach through mid-wicket again, clipping a full delivery on his leg stump neatly away with a flick of the wrists. He drives classily at another too, unable to beat the fielder, but his nerves seem to be ebbing away. Another no ball from Roach follows, before he forces Bairstow to dig out a yorker which cracks his bat and causes a short delay as he tapes it back up. He gets in a tangle fending off a short, low delivery that closes the over. 87th over: England 277-4 (Bell 17, Bairstow 5) Edwards sends down another peach for his second ball, beating Bairstow with an outswinger just outside his off stump as three slips and a gully lurk. A couple of balls later Bairstow stands tall and nudges a delivery that had drifted onto the leg stump to the mid-wicket boundary. He flashes at a short wide one on the last ball of the over, but can't get it past gully. Is it me, or is quite nice to see another ginger in the England middle order? Brings back memories of Collingwood. 86th over: England 273-4 (Bell 17, Bairstow 1) Roach has got himself going now. Yesterday he didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders, but the wicket of Strauss has put a spark in his belly. He's up to 86.6mph, hitting a good length. Bell takes a single from him, before Bairstow gets off the mark with a very sharp single from which, had the fielder hit the stumps, he might well have been run out. Meanwhile Flett's back: "Given Strauss's dismissal it appears that the Beard Liberation Front analysis about the England captain shaving overnight when 'not out' is correct. Perhaps Strauss should wear a false beard on such occasions ... 85th over: England 271-4 (Bell 16, Bairstow 0) Bell clips the first ball of the over from middle and leg through the onside. The outfield is slow, so he and Bairstow run four. Edwards responds by slinging down a beautifully swinging out-darter that beats Bell all ends up. The next one, too, is full and bends away and Edwards has a smile on his face - finally, the Windies have a ball that's doing something. Bell then sneaks a single from the last ball of the over from a piece of shoddy fielding at mid off. "That Smith and McKenzie day was the first day of Test cricket for my elder boy," emails Gary Naylor of my 10.25 entry. Wandsworth social services are still pursuing me. 84th over: England 266-4 (Bell 11, Bairstow 0) Roach is fired up from the wicket - he pings down a short one to Bairstow, on debut, who plays it badly - essentially wearing the ball on his chest. The rest of the over is played with Bairstow looking uncomfortable. England 266-4 (Strauss c Ramdin, b Roach 122): Again, Strauss doesn't add much to his overnight score. Roach's foot was just on the crease and he got a little extra bounce, which was enough to capture Strauss's inside edge. Hardly anyone went up for the catch, only the captain Darren Sammy seemed convinced so decided on the review. Good work from Sammy. Roach fires down two wide ones, then a straight one that cut Strauss in two. There's the sound of a nick, and the Ramdin goes up hoping the ball has caught that inside edge. Hotspot shows a nick, but there is a question as to whether it's a no ball or not. 83rd over: England 266-3 (Strauss 122, Bell 11) Edwards' twinge must have sorted itself out overnight as he's still bowling. His first ball swings away from Bell, who nicks it into the ground and through to the slips. Encouraging signs for the West Indies who found no swing at all yesterday. Edwards' second and third also swing away from the right-hander, before Bell nudges one away for a single, before Strauss takes another off his legs. "That is one alarming 'cherry' mark on the inside edge (to a lefthander) of his bat," points out David Wholey, who didn't want me to print his email, but I have. 82nd over: England 264-3 (Strauss 121, Bell 10) Kemar Roach takes up the ball from the Pavilion End and his first ball is clipped crisply to the cover boundary by Bell. As a batsman, that's what you want first up: full, wide and with zero movement. He leaves the next three deliveries outside the off stump, then prods a single to mid on from the fifth. Strauss blocks the last ball. 81st over: England 259-3 (Strauss 121, Bell 5) The queues outside the ground are still lengthy, and there are four balls of the 81st over to finish after bad light curtailed proceedings last night. Fidel Edwards, who had a calf twinge yesterday evening, sends down a loosener or two to Strauss - who's not brilliant when on a ton overnight - before the batsmen leaves well twice just outside the off stump. A slight hint of swing there, too. 10.53am: Andy Flower has just been interviewed by Sky, he doesn't think England are going to stamp on the accelerator but will instead build a cushion for the bowlers. He said he's also hoping for something exciting from Bell, Bairstow and Prior. So it looks like he's planning on a slow start and big finish. 10.45am: The state of the game: England are on 259 for 3, a lead of 16. With the threat of showers on Sunday and Monday, they would do well to get their skates on today. Yesterday they were more or less allowed to plod along at around 3.2 an over and they were more or less happy to as well. Only KP seemed to have an eye on getting the score up, so today Bell and Strauss initially ought to think about giving this attack something to think about. An email: From Keith Flett. Strauss's record when not out overnight is not good. The Beard Liberation Front says that the longer follicly challenged Strauss stays at the crease the more hirsute he becomes allowing easier interaction with the ball. Overnight he shaves and hence is much more likely to be out in the first hour of play. BLF Organiser Keith Flett said hirsuteness is the key to Strauss futures. I'd say Strauss is lucky to still be there at all - first, the emotion of scoring that ton must have meant his concentration slipped, second, KP nearly bnear-hugged him to death. 10.25am: Yesterday was one of those days of old school Test cricket - the relentless tedium, the overs without boundaries, the bowlers simply sending it down, the batsmen simply hitting it back. It was wonderful. Not one for newcomers to the game, perhaps, but one for the purists. Having said that, it wasn't quite this, a day in which Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith redefined the parameters of boredom while I sat in the stands attempting to convince someone who had never watched cricket before that it was a beautiful game. 138 in 447 balls! Preamble: Morning all. From this vantage point, the skies over Lord's have that clear-ish, hazy-ish sheen to them that suggest a full day's play in early summer warmth. Beautiful conditions for batting, in other words. Riding high after that deliciously controlled and disciplined century yesterday will be Andrew Strauss. It's been fashionable to say the media have been on his back, but that's not really true - everyone wanted him to score his century and he did so by resolutely ignoring anything slightly suspicious outside the off stump. He's admitted he's been getting out to silly shots, so yesterday he refused to play them (except for his lucky reprieve when slashing at a wide-ish no ball, but getting dropped when in the 90s). His 121 not out overnight was something richly deserved and warmly applauded by all except 11 West Indians. Today, their attack will be hoping the second new ball, which they took shortly before bad light stopped play last night, will talk for them as yesterday the search for bounce, seam and swing was a tough one for them.