Lord's photo gallery

A record partnership between Rob Key and Andrew Strauss put England in total control on day one of the first Test against West Indies at Lord's.

Their stand of 291 set a new standard for England's second wicket versus the Windies and propelled the hosts to 391-2 at the close of play.

Key, who was dropped on 16, finished unbeaten on 167 not out - his maiden Test century - while Strauss made 137.

Captain Michael Vaughan looked in ominous form in making 36 not out.

Key, in the side for the injured Mark Butcher, translated his impeccable county form to the bigger stage in emphatic fashion.

He struck 23 boundaries from 225 balls, while Strauss hitt the fence 20 times in a typically unflustered knock.

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Their efforts in eclipsing the 266-run stand between Tom Graveney and Peter Richardson against West Indies in 1957 thrilled a capacity crowd which included the Queen, attending her 30th Test match.

Strauss, who was following a century on Test debut and a knock of 100 in the NatWest Series at Lord's, was caught behind by Ridley Jacobs after tea.

The slowness of the pitch made Windies skipper Brian Lara's decision to bowl first look odd, though Vaughan admitted it was the course of action he would have taken.

Strauss has scored 432 runs in four international knocks at Lord's

Two Marcus Trescothick boundaries in one Pedro Collins over highlighted an opening 30 minutes in which the hosts looked untroubled.

But a dropped return chance by Tino Best presaged the left-hander's demise, which came two overs later when he was beaten for pace and picked out Ramnaresh Sarwan at square-leg.

The dismissal heralded a quiet period, but the introduction of Fidel Edwards, recently back from injury and surprisingly preferred to Jermaine Lawson, saw the scoring pick up again.

Three no-balls in his opening over were followed by boundaries to both batsmen as the young quick struggled for discipline throughout his first spell.

Edwards did, however, engineer a chance to oust Key that Chris Gayle squandered at second slip, an error that saw him leave the field for attention to a finger injury.

Test debutant Dwayne Bravo proved ineffectual towards the end of a morning session in which just 24 overs were bowled, England reaching 91-1 at the first interval.

The real punishment, however, was reserved for tall off-spinner Omari Banks, who curiously opened after lunch and whose opening four-over spell leaked 34 runs.

Play resumed 10 minutes late after tea so players could meet the Queen

Strauss and Key went after Banks (1-111) all day, and it was their initial attack on him that enabled England to score their third fifty in just 41 balls.

England scored 142 runs in a one-sided afternoon session, during which the 200 partnership was registered with Strauss and Key contributing 88 each.

Strauss brought up his century with a swept boundary, a shot he employed to great effect throughout his innings.

In Gayle's absence, Lara was forced to turn to the part-time leg-spin of Sarwan, part out of desperation and part out of the need to quicken the dawdling over-rate.

The visitors continued to toil into the evening, even when Best (1-75), who had bowled only 10 overs to that point despite being their most lively threat, was brought back.

Key plundered 13 runs off Best's comeback over, and he soon moved to triple figures with a four through mid-wicket.

But relief came for the visitors when Strauss faintly edged a Banks quicker ball to Jacobs, who claimed his 200th catch.

Key and Vaughan carried on after the departure of Strauss before bad light stopped play 5.3 overs before the scheduled close.

England: Michael Vaughan (capt), Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Robert Key, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison.

West Indies: Brian Lara (capt), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Ridley Jacobs, Omari Banks, Tino Best, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards.