England will try to take 10 wickets on the final day and beat West Indies in the first Test after Kevin Pietersen's 109 helped set a target of 401.

The tourists closed on 7-0 but face a stern test on a Lord's pitch which Monty Panesar will enjoy bowling on.

Panesar took a Test-best 6-29 as the Windies were bowled out for 437.

Pietersen accelerated from a slow start to add 102 with Paul Collingwood after Alastair Cook had laid the foundations with 65 as England declared on 284-8.

By Ben Dirs

606: DEBATE Your views on the action at Lord's

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Ben Dirs' in the subject) or use 606

WEST INDIES SECOND INNINGS

1905: Thank you to everyone for reading and for all of your emails - see you all again for the final act...

"Why is it funny to watch Chris Gayle being hit in the goolies? Probably some evolution thing about scuppering the alpha male's chances tonight?"
David, York, in the TMS inbox

1900: All that kerfuffle means England will only get one more over in. Ganga scores the first runs off the bat, square-driving Plunkett for four. A wide from plunkett, about four feet outside off-stump - Strauss looks bemused at second slip, this is horrible from England. That's all folks, West Indies have survived - it's going to be a long old night for Gayle... 7-0

"'Tragedy is when I cut my finger, comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die' - Mel Brookes."
Gordon Lewis in the TMS inbox

1854: Oh my life, that's pitched on a length, jagged back and caught Gayle slap bang in the orchestras. Down goes the big man in a heap - his missus will be weeping into her copy of Mother and Child. A few sniggers from the England fielders. What is it about a man getting hit in the testicles by a very hard ball travelling at 88mph that makes other men laugh? That's not a rhetorical question, I want answers. The physio is out - the one bonus for Gayle is it might swell up a bit for a couple of weeks. He climbs to his feet after a couple of minutes flat on his back, and the Lord's crowd rises to its feet.

1851: England huddle - what's that all about? - and here come Gayle and Ganga. Harmison is charged with rooting a couple out tonight. Come on big man, make our day...his first delivery is a wide outside off-stump...a nation slumps....and another wide...a nation claps hands over faces. A ripsnorter next up, squaring Gayle up, and this is Russian Roulette for the batsmen. Another good ball down the corridor and he's got his head together....no he hasn't, that's well wide, but not called.

ENGLAND SECOND INNINGS

1838: Can't work out these English tactics, they're only going to get 10 minutes at the Windies at this rate. Silly, they could have had them two down tonight. Harmison hammers Gayle down the ground for one and Panesar has the strike - a nation holds its breath...Monty grabs one with a good-looking drive and it's as if he's scored his hundredth hundred. Boos and cheers ring around the ground and it's like panto season never ended. Monty picks up another couple with a drive over the top and England declare with the lead 400...We estimate England will get three overs at the tourists tonight. 284-8 dec

1833: That's the declaration...no it's not, HERE COMES MONTY! Maybe he hasn't been told? He comes bounding onto the pitch like a young fawn and Lord's erupts! Bravo puts down return catches against Harmison from successive deliveries - one left-handed, one right-handed, he could have snaffled them both. For some reason, Harmison's stroke-play says 'golf' to me. He misses with an airy long iron but picks up two with a scuffed wedge. That was more baseball to be honest, Harmison flat-batting Bravo straight down the ground for one. The lead is now 393. 277-8

1827:WICKET - Prior c Bravo b Gayle 21 (Eng 271-8)
Harmison plays a gentle sand wedge over mid-wicket for one to get The Blacksmith back on strike. Prior goes for a biggun, gets a top-edge and is caught by Bravo at short third-man.

1825: Prior drives uppishly, but Bravo is unable to take a very sharp return catch. Harmison on strike. Surely there'll be plenty of long handle here from Harmy. Harmison probes at one and is beaten and I'm not sure why England are still out there to be honest. Prior Tuck makes room and smears Bravo over extra-cover for four. A very fruity player, Prior, very fruity indeed. 270-7

1816:WICKET - Plunkett st Ramdin b Gayle 0 (Eng 264-7)
YESSS! I can dig out my little duck graphic! Gayle makes Plunkers looks silly and Ramdin whips off the bails with the Durham man about eight feet out of his crease. Double-wicket maiden for Gayle, and he breaks into a magnificent grin.

1813:WICKET - Pietersen lbw b Gayle 109 (Eng 264-6)
Gayle's got KP! God going for a reverse slog and getting himself traped plumb in front. What is it about KP? He always gets himself out in the most ridiculous manner. He and Gayle, the two 'hardest in the year', shake hands as KP makes his way from the pitch. Nice touch - still don't know who's harder...

1810: Prior's not going to hang about, and he makes room with his first ball faced and carves Bravo away for four. It's all gone one-day on us, I feel a declaration coming on. More humpy-dumpty from Prior, crashing Bravo over mid-wicket for six...and another, this one a head-hunter that lands 10 rows back. Crash Bang Wallop, What A Picture!
264-5

"You can imagine Matt Prior in a butcher's apron chopping up the meat..."
Christopher Martin-Jenkins on TMS

1806:WICKET - Bell c Ganga b Bravo 3 (Eng 248-5)
Bell feathers Bravo straight down Ganga's neck at third-man. Probably not a bad thing, England need hammer, not nurdle. Prior in next, this could be riotous.

1804: Bell nurdles Gayle away for one. It's reaching 'who can wee higher against the wall' proportions between Gayle and KP - Gayle bowls the ball straight into the ground before KP attempts an outlandish reverse drive, misses and Gayle goes up for lbw. Umpire Rauf might need to bang some heads together like some 1950s PE teacher in a minute. KP picks up one with a flick to mid-wicket before Bell should have been stumped, Ramdin, once again, fluffing his lines. 248-4

1759: Bell, not famed for his quick scoring, comes in at six. Bravo gives him some short stuff and the Warwickshire man paddles him to fine-leg for one. KP pulls out the Big Bertha, has a tremendous thrash and misses, the ball just missing his stumps. If he'd hit that, the ball would have finished up in Clapham. 242-4

1756:WICKET - Collingwood c Taylor b Bravo 34 (Eng 241-4)
KP waits on a Bravo slower ball and runs him away for two. But that's Colly gone, Bravo digging one in and the Durham man sticking it down Taylor's gullet at mid-wicket.

"The lead is now 357 and, if I was England, I'd declare right now. It would be giving West Indies a chance, but..."
Colin Croft on TMS

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1752: That's the hundred partnership off 94 balls, Collingwood clipping Gayle through mid-wicket for one. 240-3

1749: Colly tries to hook Bravo and gets another top-edge, the ball ballooning to point. Colly does manage to middle one, getting right on top of a pull and running one. Pietersen picks up a brace with a straight drive. Nineteen overs left this evening. A couple of them at the tourists? 236-3

1745: Bit of milking from Gayle's over, three singles from it. 233-3

1739: Bit more mucking about between KP and Gayle between overs, KP prodding Gayle in the small of the back like a farmer herding sheep. KP thrashes one back at Bravo and grabs two to move to 98. That ricocheted off the bowler's hand and must have hurt. Bravo digs on in short and KP rolls the wrists on it...and picks up one. Colly swings Bravo down to fine-leg and Powell makes a hash of the catch, the ball popping in and out again at about knee high. That's KP's seventh Test century, yanking Bravo away for one. Subdued celebrations from The Big Man, but the lid does eventually come off and the blade is held aloft as the crowd rises to their feet. That was a spankingly good knock and took just 121 balls. 230-3

1735: Ramdin misses a sharp chance, KP feathering Gayle down the leg-side and the rather hapless wicket-keeper failing to snaffle. Pietersen moves to 95 with a single. The England players gather on the balcony, anticipating the ton of God. Gayle brings his field in, tempting his old sparring partner to go over the top....but KP tickles him for one. 226-3

"Is it just me or is encouraging under-16s to turn up at 0900 tomorrow promoting truancy?"
Alex Longley in the TMS inbox

1731: KP and Gayle are still going at it, they can't go near each other without exchanging insults. Both are acquitting themselves well to be honest. KP opens his shoulders and slaps Bravo through the covers for four. KP walks to outside off-stump - always the sign of a top-class player - and whips Bravo through mid-wicket for a couple. Too easy this for England, KP picking up another brace with a nudge to square-leg. Top-edge from KP, and he scampers a single. 221-3

1725: KP and Colly milking Bravo for four singles before Colly times him through extra-cover for four. Sweet. Shabby fielding from Morton. Tickets for the final day at Lord's - �20 for adults, �10 for OAPs, free for under-16s. Go to the North Gate at 0900, and it's cash only...got all that? Should be a belter. 209-3

"I see the BBC website Cricket Academy has a feature, 'Improve your keeping with Geraint Jones'. I presume that is a typo, and the word 'with' shouldn't actually be there."
Clarkey, London, in the TMS inbox

1716: The old walking stick has come out for Powell and Gayle is back on. This could be interesting. KP shows delicate hands, feathering Gayle through backward-point for one. Colly chips Gayle into the gap at long-off and KP brings up the England 200 with a flip through mid-on. Drinks. 200-3

"Nice anecdote about Curtly Ambrose (Tom Leggett). But as far as I know, it was Joel Garner who (allegedly) said this. I think I read this in one of Phil Edmonds' books."
Heleen, Utrecht, in the TMS inbox

1713: Collingwood gets in on the act, slapping Bravo over wide long-on for four. Two more quick runs for Colly and England are motoring. 195-3

1708: Bit of blue for the dads! The first streaker of the summer! Alas, Sky aren't showing it, and Tony Cozier on TMS tells me it's actually a chap..."a very scrawny one". He gets down and kisses the pitch, Pope-stylee, before being escorted from the field of play. More beef between KP and Gayle, who are behaving like a couple of schoolkids vying to be the 'hardest in the year'. Gayle sticks out a leg and trips KP up and KP spits some invective his way. Tremendous...I mean, there's no need for that... 189-3

1705: Powell replaces Gayle. "You're making me cross," says Pietersen to Gayle, much like Dr David Banner used to just before turning green and splitting his strides. Another four from KP, a peachy cover-drive. 187-3

1659: KP picks up four more with an outside edge. He is careering towards his ton like a runaway truck. Another four for Pietersen, slathering Bravo through the covers. Thirty-four runs from the last three overs. Ouch... 180-3

"Talk of Curtly Ambrose reminds me of one of my favourite cricketing quotes. Apparently, a young lady approached him in a bar, and optimistically asked if he was all 'in proportion', to which the 6' 7" Antiguan retorted, 'Girl, if I was in proportion, I'd be 10 feet tall'."
Tom Leggett, Durham, in the TMS inbox

1654: A close-up of Gayle reveals he is absolutely furious about something or other. Whatever's up, England are milking him like a faithful old cow before KP picks up another four, all run, with a steer to backward point. Another photo! (see below)172-3

"Emails, I've sent a few, but then again, too few to mention...I've just got up, been on the night shift, babies popping out like Monty lbws. If I was in the trenches it would be Collingwood (I love a grinder), Warnie, Peter Kay and John Freida."
maydenover, Notts, in the TMS inbox

1652: We have the old DI Regan-Jason King (Collingwood - Regan, KP - King) partnership at the crease, and King moves to his 50 with two savage fours, the first a whip-crack through mid-wicket, the second a full-blooded cover-drive. Gayle and KP are having a bit of a tiff, not sure what's riled the former, but the latter finds it pretty funny. Fight! Fight! Fight! Now that would be a decent match-up. KP is all over Collymore like a cheap suit here, crashing him through mid-wicket for the third four of the over. Collymore serves up a bumper and gives him a Spaghetti Western glare - but KP has the last laugh, waiting on the final delivery and steering him through backward point for four. 164-3

1644: Collingwood prods Gayle through mid-wicket for a couple, Powell with the misfield. 146-3

1641: Collingwood is next up the ramp and he gets four first ball with a slice over imaginary third slip. 144-3

"I once held Curtly Ambrose's drink in Alberry's wine bar in Canterbury. I performed this service while he attempted to descend the extremely tight spiral staircase that leads to the basement bar, but due to his height (and perhaps his consumption of beverages) he was unable to achieve this, which reduced the watching Allan Lamb to tears."
Russell in the TMS inbox

1638:WICKET - Cook c Ramdin b Collymore 65 (Eng 139-3)
Ave Maria! KP sashays down to pitch and slathers Collymore through mid-off for four. Savage. But that's Cook out, Collymore getting one to leave him and the Essex man feathering a catch to Ramdin behind the stumps. Cookie, it would appear, is a walker, no waiting for the umpire's finger.

1635: Gayle and all the other Windies players think Cook is out leg before, but umpire Rauf, correctly, adjudges that the ball pitched outside leg-stump. Just a KP single from the over. 134-2

1632: KP not really timing anything today, but he moves to 36 with a skewed drive through the covers. Haven't had a boundary for a while, I have to say I'm drifting a bit. 133-2

1628: Calm down Cookie! He attempts a reverse sweep and the ball ricochets up and hits him on the chin. KP strolls down and paws at his partner like a mother wiping lipstick off her son. 130-2

"Although I doubt any would have ripped wings off of butterflies, I can imagine Monty chasing them around in gardens and parks."
James, Leeds, in the TMS inbox

1625: Pietersen tippy-toes down the track like a secret lemonade drinker and whips Collymore through mid-wicket for a couple and repeats the shot for two more. KP seems to have made a mental note - "Memo to God: give it some humpty" - and slaps Colly through square-leg for another brace. 130-2

"I once met Courtney Walsh in Waterstones in Watford. He even managed to look cool browsing through Terry Pratchett's back catalogue. What a man."
Daryl Saunders in the TMS inbox

1621: KP pushes a single before Cook paddles Gayle round the corner for a couple. Kirsten Dunst and Johnny Borrell are in again today! Dunst still not looking much cop to be honest, I'm not going to lie to you, and Borrell looks like a bag of old spanners. 124-2

"Ifs and buts and pots and pans, they don't mean anything, as my old friend Navjot Sidhu used to say..."
Geoffrey Boycott on TMS

How to listen to TMS

1616: Cook flips Collymore down to third-man for a couple before Colly has a decent lbw appeal brushed off by umpire Koertzen - that was going over. Looks like England will bat through tonight and then have a go at West Indies tomorrow. Monty should be getting more assistance from the pitch on day five - a 10-fer in the offing? 119-2

"Emails?! I've been emailing you all day, Mr Dirs, and still nothing aired. However - air this and I will come and give you a big smacker in front of the general public. Would you like that?"
Sam, Kent, in the TMS inbox

1614: Cook and KP milk Gayle for four singles. 117-2

1612: Interesting, Paul Cooke (see below), that you should insist on 'Cooky'. Imaginatively, I am called Dirsy by all and sundry, but I would never spell it 'Dirsie'. Leg before shout against KP, but that hit him outside the line. KP picks up a single and we're all waiting for some fireworks here. 113-2

"I can't believe any of the current England team ripped the wings off butterflies as a child, although I wouldn't put it past John Prescott."
Melanie, Oxfordshire, in the TMS inbox

1609: Cook steers Gayle away for a couple and the Windies darter is rattling through his overs. It's a close call as to who bowls their overs faster, him or Panesar. 112-2

"Gayle is like Eric Bristow, his deliveries come thudding in..."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

1606: Collymore gets one past a tentative grope from Pietersen but KP picks up one with a push into the covers. 110-2

"I hope George ensured that all the windows in his marital home were fitted with net curtains as I seem to remember that Lynne had a predilection to wander around the house in a near constant state of undress."
Tom in the TMS inbox

1603: KP gets down on one knee and paddles Gayle round the corner for one and Cook plays a similar shot for a couple. 108-2

"Ben, what do I have to do to get a message aired? Anyway, the reason I write is because I'm a little bit annoyed. Regardless of the spelling (Cook/Cooke), it's always Cookie! NOT Cooky OK? Here endeth the lesson!"
Paul Cooke, Russia, in the TMS inbox

1559: Players are out after tea and I'd greatly appreciate some emails during the final session to gird me for the final push. John Prescott is up there lolling about in the stands. I can't believe there were times over the last 10 years when he was in charge of my country. He looks like an out of shape security guard from your local council offices. Good jab though. And there's Windies legend Courtney Walsh sitting among the great unwashed! Good man, he's even joining in the chants!

"Rob - Old Man Jenkins didn't have a farmhouse, he had a derelict, haunted amusement park, with the infamous comical Hall of Mirrors. Tsk...honestly...It was Old Man Withers that had the farmhouse."
David Dishon in the TMS inbox

1541: The old boys are dropping like flies in the members' stand. Someone give that chap a nudge, I'm not sure he's asleep. KP gets up on one leg and flicks Bravo through the leg-side for one - and that's tea. 105-2

"The other day, all the talk was about recipes, today it's about good looking MALES! What's the subject for tomorrow, how to best apply your lip gloss? Please, can we have something a little more manly? Like who in the current England team looks most likely to have torn the wings off butterflies when he was a kid?"
Phil, Memphis, in the TMS inbox

1536: Not much chat out there from the Windies fielders, which must be blessed relief for the England batsmen after their Ashes hell. A bit like going straight from Brannigans ('Eating, Dancing and Cavorting') to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. I was sat in Midnight Mass one year and some clown climbed to his feet and shouted "Morrissey is the only King!". He was last seen trading blows with Father Martin in the vestry. Gayle on the spot, a maiden. 104-2

1533: KP plays a picture-perfect on-drive, but Chanderpaul limits him to a single. Cook - tall, angular and wiry - moves to 52 with a drive into the covers. 104-2

"Lynn may have been more mature, but could she tell you a) where Scooby Doo is? or b) how to solve the mystery in Old Man Jenkins' farmhouse? I think not."
Rob in the TMS inbox

1527: That's yet another Cook fifty courtesy of a push into the covers for one. It came from 72 balls and included eight fours. KP waits on a Gayle delivery and dabs him down to third-man for a couple and that's the England ton. I imagine KP is looking to survive until tea and then give it some rat-a-tat-tat in the final session. Hope so. 101-2

1525: Cook works Bravo away for one and KP picks up a single behind square. 98-2

"I know people have low expectations of Vaughan, but it'll be a hard push to do worse than Shah did in this match. And his return should improve the team crumpet-wise - he looked very nice in his suit yesterday on the Lotto..."
Emma, Notts, in the TMS inbox

1520: One for the ladies! Here comes Gayle with his casual darts. Cooky works Gayle off his hip for two. A slip and a leg-slip in for KP. Pietersen gives Gayle the charge and miscues him over mid-wicket for a couple. I think KP will look to get stuck into Gayle. 94-2

"Dear Sir, I am interested in applying for the position of Bill Frindall. To whom should I send my application? Yours sincerely, Russell Gray"

1516: Cook tucks Taylor round the corner for one. KP scampers a quick single after a dab into the off-side. The cameraman has just shown some artist painting the action and there's a bit of poetic licence going on - anyone looking at it would think there were 200,000 Special Brew-fuelled fans packed into Lord's, rather than a few thousand dozing blokes from the Home Counties. Cook whips Taylor through mid-wicket for four and nicks the strike with another flip off his legs. Bread and butter. 91-2

1511: Strauss has got his feet up on the England balcony and his nose in one of the tabloids. Actually, I think it was The Sun and I think he was reading George and Lynn. Anyone else fancy Lynn as a kid? As cartoon characters go, it was always a toss up between her and Daphne out of Scooby Doo. I think I would have plumped for Lynn's knowing maturity. That's a pearling stroke from Cook, crushing Bravo through the covers for four. England have bedded in here after some sticky little moments. 84-2

"My taste in 'cricket crumpets' doesn't include any Englishmen, partly because I'm Australian, and partly because all of the half decent Englishmen are either ginger (Collingwood), have shaved heads (Pietersen) or look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo (Hoggard). Apart from Geraint Jones. Does anyone else think he looks like a low budget Johnny Depp?"
Wendy Bird in the TMS inbox

1501: KP picks up a couple with a sliced drive and he hasn't really hit his straps yet. Ropey piece of fielding from Powell at mid-on, and Pietersen picks up three more. Ooh, that's a doozy of a cover-drive from Pietersen - four for it. 80-2

1456: Taylor drops short and Cook larrups that through point for four. Sweet as a nut. 72-2

"Who'd be the best at a cricket/boxing crossover? Hayden must have a sweet left hook. Can't see Hatton getting much turn on this Lord's pitch though."
Another one of the seven boxing fans in the UK in the TMS inbox

1452: I haven't been to bingo for a while - the person sitting opposite me with the blue rinse and Lambert and Butler hanging out of the corner of his wizened mouth has informed me that 'two fat ladies' is 88! Clickety-clix is, of course, 66. Good line and length from Bravo and the England batsmen are being kept honest here. 67-2

1449: Two fat ladies! Cook pulls Taylor to the boundary for four as England move to 66-2. KP has a nibble at a Taylor tempter before unfurling a wild and windy woosh...and missing. Good line and length from Taylor, nervy start from KP. 67-2

1440: An almighty row has erupted in the office about what should be top of the site - this, or the Heineken Cup final. However treasonous this might sound, I said the rugby, in a rather patronising "let them have their 80 minutes of fun" kind of way. Personally, I'd have Jermain Taylor v Cory Spinks top, but then I'm one of only seven people in the country who's stil interested in boxing...One run from Cook, pushing Bravo into the covers. 62-2

1437: Cook and KP exchange nurdles before Cooky chops into the covers for a couple. 61-2

1431: Just seen a replay of that Shah dismissal and umpire Koertzen, despite Geoffrey's misgivings, was spot on, it came off his bottom hand. KP's in next and his first scoring stroke is an inside edge straight down the ground for four. 56-2

"I'm not a fan of Rudi Koertzen's umpiring, I think he's made some appalling decisions."
Geoffrey Boycott on TMS

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1426:WICKET - Shah c Ramdin b Collymore 4 (Eng 51-2)
Peche de la peche check drive from new man Shah and it races away for four. Shah was all over the oche in the first innings, it was quite painful viewing. And that, in the blink of an eye, could be the end of Shah's England career, the ball ballooning off something down the leg side and Ramdin taking the catch. No-one seems quite sure what it came off, but umpire Koertzen thinks it was out. "THAT'S SHAH LOT!" Oh, to work for a red top...

"It's wretched being stuck on a building site in a portacabin on a sunny Sunday, thank the great maker for the TMS updates, it's keeping us sane!"
Andy, Swindon, in the TMS inbox

1419: Powell drags one in short and Cook's eyes light up like a pinball machine before he marmalises him through point for four. Spot of luck for Cook, the Essex man attempting to jag his bat out of the way only for the ball to ricochet to the third-man fence. Powell sticks hands on hips and shakes his head ruefully, as if he's just found out his golf clubs have been put on the wrong flight to Morocco. Another tentative poke from Cook and that's four more streaky runs. A little chuckle this time from Powell - good lad. 47-1

1412:WICKET - Strauss c Morton b Collymore 24 (Eng 35-1)
Strauss turns Collymore off his legs for a couple and I reckon Sarwan might turn to the spin of Gayle in the next 10 minutes. Collymore aborts his run up - he looked like he was suffering some sort of palsy, but I think he got a fly in his eye. But he's got Strauss next ball, locating his edge and Morton pouching the catch low at second slip. All a bit odd that - not much celebrating initially from the tourists and Strauss loitering at the crease before umpire finally sticks his trigger-finger up.

1409: Cook steers Powell down the slope - Chanderpaul looks like he'll be the winner, but the ball steps up a gear and disappears over the boundary. Geraint Jones has given England a timely reminder...with an unbeaten 22 for Kent against the mighty Glamorgan. 33-0

1406: Strauss nurdles a couple from Collymore and off goes the cameraman on Totty Watch! Haven't see much of that since the World Cup. There's a very classy lady sipping on a glass of shampoo and nibbling on a bap. 27-0

"I agree with Mark Devlin (see below). Having been taught biology by Chris Tavare at school, I can vouch for the fact that his teaching style mirrored his cricket - dull and monotonous! Wouldn't exactly be a barrel of laughs in the Somme..."
Alex, Southampton, in the TMS inbox

1400: Another whip to leg from Cook off Powell for one. Powell gets one to spit up at Cook and the Essex man just manages to fend it downwards. Clara McGrath's choice of cricket crumpet (see below) has stirred the John Bull spirit among other readers - why no Englishmen, cries James in Oxford, while Jason J asserts that Adam Gilchrist looks like "Iain Dowie's ugly mate"... 25-0

"I got into cricket through a scary combination of my cricket-mad family, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood. Is that completely normal?"
Beth, Bolton, in the TMS inbox

1356: That's probing stuff from Collymore, five balls in the corridor of uncertainty outside Strauss' off-peg. Cook does pick up a single with a turn to leg. 23-0

"I have officially abandoned any silly ideas of getting work done today. I can't imagine anyone better to settle into a confined space with than the lovely Cook, and as he's a well-educated lad, I'm sure he could hold reasonable conversation. Though to be honest, I don't see why you're all so keen to head to the trenches - personally, I'm a lover, not a fighter."
Rachel in the TMS inbox

1352: That's a chance - Strauss tries to yank his bat over the ball, gets an bottom-edge and Ramdin is unable to snaffle a sharp one behind the timbers. He got a glove on it, plenty of keepers would have pouched it. More purposeful that from Strauss, rocking back and carving Powell through point for four to move to 18. Powell retaliates with a bumper and throws some daggers Strauss' way in his follow-through. Dreeeeamy stroke from Strauss, lacing Powell through extra-cover for four. That was the England skipper's round. 22-0

1348: Collymore has a optimistic lbw appeal shrugged off by umpire Koertzen, it was going on to miss leg. 14-0

"I've been reading yesterday's emails about what gets women into cricket. Believe me, it's certainly not Mark Ramprakash, he looks like Count Dracula in a Hammer Horror. What about Brett Lee, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke?"
Clara McGrath, Ivybridge, in the TMS inbox

1340: Players are out after lunch and Strauss clips Powell through the covers for a couple first up. I've perked up a bit this afternoon, I was like a bear awaking from a deep hibernation this morning. Strauss whips Powell fine for two more. 12-0

Alec Stewart's latest blog is up in the site - have a click on the adjacent link and join in the chat...which is Flintoff and Vaughan's fitness, Harmison's recent form and Monty!

Stewart at the Test

"If ever a cricketer embodied the stoicism, tedium, futility and, ultimately, heroism of the trenches, surely it was Chris Tavar�?"
Mark Devlin in the TMS inbox

"If it's a limited overs battle (Chris, Sunderland) then even the Germans would beat us."
Adam, Oxford, in the TMS inbox

"We need more information before picking our trench cricketers. Does the trench take spin in the last two days? Are the trenches going to dry out? Is it a limited overs battle?"
Chris, Sunderland, in the TMS inbox

"This is very delicately poised. The West Indies have to be very careful how they attack England. They don't want England to score 200-220 in the next two sessions."
Colin Croft on TMS

How to listen to TMS

1301: A bit of Gayle before lunch - I reckon there's plenty of ladies out there who'd like some of that. Plenty of turn for Gayle and his final ball turns past Cook's outside edge -but England are intact at lunch. Don't go flicking... 8-0

1257: Cook off the dreaded blob, Powell spearing one onto his pads and the Essex man whipping him away for a single. Strauss gets himself into a bit of a pickle, going for the pull and the ball just missing his off-stump. Bit of uneven bounce here, England's openers need to be watchful. 8-0

"With regard to Ian's point about Springsteen (see below), as he was only 'born' to run, he may not have exercised that option. Much in the same way that I was 'born' to be a captain of industry, but chose instead to be a bone idle sofa-lounging eejit."
Tim in the TMS Inbox

1253: Collymore strays onto Strauss' pads and is whipped away for a single. Collymore has a sleeveless sweater on and his shirt buttoned up to the neck. He looks like he's off for a brisk walk on the moors in November rather than playing at a sun-drenched Lord's in May. Big lbw shout against Cook, but umpire Koertzen presumably thought that was high. Cook not yet off the mark. 7-0

1249: Powell struggling with his run-up in this over and Strauss punches him through the covers for three. Good fielding from Chanderpaul on the boundary rope to save four. 5-0

"The thing with cricketers in the trenches is, if you go and pick a lanky bowler, you'll have to spend time digging your trench deeper to stop his head poking over the top."
Michael, Canterbury, in the TMS inbox

1246: Collymore to share the new ball and this really is a bit of a travesty - Sunday of the first Test at Lord's and there are swathes of empty seats. Can't say I'm surprised to be honest - England played like a dented harmonica all winter and you could get almost 65 pints down the Monday Club in a Wetherspoons for the price of a ticket. One single for Strauss. Anyone want to buy a Hummer? 2-0

"England effectively need to treat this as a sort of one-dayer now. That worries me."
Chris Greenwood in the TMS inbox

1238: Absolute peach of a delivery first up from Powell, squaring Strauss up and beating him all ends up. Strauss is off the mark with a tuck round the corner for one, but that was a good, probing first over from Powell. Maybe he should have a chat with Harmy, he could learn a thing or two. 1-0

"If I were to take a cricketer to the trenches with me it would certainly be Graham Gooch. His aggression and fitness would be an asset to any army, whilst also providing the eye candy to meet Sarah's requirements."
Tom Leggett, Durham, in the TMS inbox

1236: OK, OK! The house thing was a joke! Sorry, wasn't very funny...Players are out and England's second innings will soon be under way.

"Bruce Springsteen doesn't strike me as being that brave. Wasn't he Born To Run?"
Ian W, Burton upon Trent, in the TMS inbox

WEST INDIES FIRST INNINGS

1227:WICKET - Collymore lbw b Panesar 1 (WI 437 all out)
That's a wrap, another leg before for Monty, and he finishes with 6-129. The Windies are 116 behind, time for England to rack up some runs.

1225: Blockhole ball from Harmison and Collymore fends it towards the slips and gets one for it. Powell then plays an extraordinary shot, weaving towards Harmison like an East London meths drinker before slapping him through extra-cover for four. Lots of thigh-slapping on the Windies balcony, Harmison looks like he's just discovered someone's drawn a cartoon phallus on the back of his shirt. In complete contrast, Powell plays a text-book, high-elbowed cover-drive for four next ball. It's not getting much better for Harmy... 437-9

"Not sure which trenches Sarah's thinking of, I never imagined it being a pleasant experience. However, I think I probably would have Gordon Ramsay and Springsteen, both pretty handy in a scrap I imagine."
Rich, London, in the TMS inbox

1219: I've had a think and I've taken the link to my house down. I can't put my finger on why, but I'm sure it could get me into trouble in some way. Powell gets down on one knee and swings Monty away for four. Collymore is next out of the hutch. 428-9

1211:WICKET - Taylor c Sub b Harmison 21 (WI 424-9)
Harmy is back on and this could be fun - they'll try to give him some hammer. Powell flails at his first delivery and the ball flies off his gloves, over Prior and runs away for four. But Harmy has a wicket! Taylor tries to lace him through the covers and sub fielder Hodgson takes a good low catch at point. Sarah (see below), I'm not sure you understand the point of trenches - they're not underground holiday camps, they're theatres of war. I'm not sure Springsteen would have been much cop in a bayonet charge.

1209: Powell whips Monty through mid-wicket for one before Prior gives up the first byes of his England career, the ball missing leg-stump and trickling away for four. Taylor is loving this, thumping Monty over mid-wicket for four. 419-8

"Who would you choose to have in the trenches with you, Ben? Think I'd have The Boss to serenade me, Gordon Ramsey to provide sustenance, Jonathan Ross for laughs and conversation and Simon Jones as the eye candy..."
Sarah, Canterbury, in the TMS inbox

1205: Taylor's having fun out there, flicking Plunkett through mid-wicket for one and Powell grabs a single for himself. Taylor flays Plunkett down to long-leg for a couple and picks up another single with a tickle to leg. Anyone looking to buy in South East London? I put my house up for sale last week - it's a one-bedder with a garden in Honor Oak Park, near Forest Hill. It's a little belter. 409-8

1158: Taylor picks up three with a chop past the slip cordon and he moves to 12. He could prove very irritating, Taylor. Umpire Rauf turns down an optimistic lbw decision from Monty against Powell. 404-8

1154: Taylor's going to give it some humpty here and that's the Windies 400, the ball slicing over the slips from a streaky drive. Taylor is given some room by Plunkett but the Jamaican misses out with a wild attempted cut. He's a character with willow in hand this Taylor, whipping Plunkers round the corner for one. Apparently, West Indies have never had a Test when all 11 players have scored double figures. Weird. Jaffa from Plunkett, Powell groping and the ball pitching and leaving him slightly. 401-8

1149: Monty's done himself a mischief fielding to his own bowling - looks like he's dislodged a nail on his left hand, bit of claret, on comes the physio. On closer inspection, it's his left index finger. England would be in serious bother if Monty had to go off. He gets a plaster on it and he's ready to go - not sure I'd want Monty in the trenches with me on that evidence. 396-8

1143: Plunkett drops short and Powell rocks back, rolls his wrists on it and the ball runs away through mid-wicket for four. Squeals from the Lord's crowd as Plunkers locates Taylor's outside edge and the ball falls just short of the slip cordon. 396-8

"I'm glad you mentioned 'all 12 Apostles' being able to help Harmy. Usually I find the fact that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ and hanged himself in a field leads people to overlook his encyclopedic knowledge of reverse swing."
Justin Noack in the TMS inbox

1140: Taylor is the new batsman - he averages 8 from 10 Tests with a highest score of 27. But that's a majestic shot to get off the mark, using his feet and on-driving Monty for four. 391-8

1133:WICKET - Chanderpaul lbw b Panesar 74 (WI 387-8)
Harmy didn't last long - and the cheers say it all, it's Monty time. Monty, however, fluffs his lines and his opening over-pitched delivery is laced through the covers for four. But Monty composes himself and makes the breakthrough, getting one to turn out of the rough and trap Chanderpaul, playing no shot, plumb in front. Five wickets for Panesar, England needed that.

"Aleks (see below), whether the TV is LCD or plasma has nothing to do with it, as that does not affect the waves being sent to your house. It is just whether it is digital (ie. sky/freeview) or analogue (ie. terrestrial). You're right though, with them both being analogue there should be no noticeable difference."
Jonathon Howe in the TMS inbox

1132: Powell swats at a Plunkett bumper and the ball ricochets of a top edge and runs away for four. Powell then tries an expansive drive and is beaten by a delivery that nibbles off the seam. 383-7

1128: Crackerjack delivery from Harmison, squaring Chanderpaul up with another lifter. Chanderpaul picks up one with a clip off his legs before Powell steers to point for a single. Chanderpaul moves to 69 with a push into the covers. Harmison consistently touching 90mph this morning, there's a bit more anger about him - maybe his missus forgot to tape Wag's Boutique? Saying that, that's wayward, Prior doing very well to save a ball arcing miles down leg. 378-7

1125: Sub Hodgson, and MCC young cricketer, misfields at point, allowing Powell an ambled two. Chin up young man. Powell can bat a bit, and Plunkett is skewed backward of point for four. 375-7

"Ben - how is your surname pronounced? Is it 'Dears' or - like your commentary - 'Dires'."
Matthew Aylmer, London, in the TMS inbox

1119: Powell turns Harmison away to leg for his first run. Chanderpaul gets some rib music, Harmison getting one to spit off a length like fat from a frying pan. Harmison drops short but Chanderpaul misses out, substitute fielder Lee Hodgson making a fine stop at point. Just one from the over. 369-7

1115: Plunkers' radar needs a bit of twiddling - not many questions, but it's another maiden. Lord's looking sensational from the sky and people are still streaming into the lovely old ground like ants making their way towards a discarded lollipop. 368-7

"Pete (see below), there shouldnt be any difference between two anologue systems, the difference comes between digital (lcd/plasma) and an anologue radio due to the picture being beamed through slightly slower."
Aleks in the TMS inbox

1112: Harmison attempts a slower delivery, but Powell digs it out comfortably. Terrible night's sleep, feel ruddy awful. Better this from Harmison, although still a little short. 368-7

1109: Lots of tickets available today - about 6,000 apparently. Charge joke prices, that's what happens. So dig out the Esky and drag your mates and family down there. Bit lumpy at the top end - �65 - but there are cheaper available. Bit wayward from Plunkett first up, but it's a maiden. 368-7

"He has technical problems, needing to stand up straighter, but there's also a mental side - I don't think he understands what balls batsman don't want him to bowl to them. I would tell him where I really don't want him to keep bowling."
Geoffrey Boycott on TMS

How to listen to TMS

"Might you be so good as to help sort out a problem myself and a housemate have? While watching the FA Cup final yesterday, I got bored of Motty rambling on and offered to turn on the Radio Five Live commentary instead. My housemate said different waves are used to broadcast each signal and so there would be a clear and irritating delay between sound and pictures. I disagreed. Both were analogue, by the way. Could some clever wiz-kid help me win the argument?"
Pete, Sheffield Uni, in the TMS inbox

1108: Harmison on from the Nursery End for the first time in the match and his first ball is bang on, just outside Chanderpaul's off-peg. Chanderpaul plays and misses second ball - better from Harmison. Fine retort from the left-hander, whipping Harmison through mid-on for four. But Harmison strikes back, Chanderpaul groping at his final delivery, at that was a good old-fashioned ding-dong of a first over. 368-7

1059: The England players are out and here come Chanderpaul and Powell. Hoggy sat up on the balcony, I'd wager he'll be out for the series.

"Collingwood to take five, Harmison actually finding that the stumps exist at the other end of the strip and Strauss to hit a hundred today. Collingwood is the true all-rounder."
Mark Wheeler, Bristol, in the TMS inbox

1156: Hoggard, apparently, is unlikely to play again in this match - he has a grade one thigh tear. That's a major blow for England, especially with Harmy serving it up like he is.

1054: Just seen Harmison getting a bit of advice from Ian Botham out in the middle. The way he bowled yesterday he needs more than Beefy, he needs Jesus Christ and all 12 Apostles.

1043: Morning all. What a glorious, glorious day - my Welsh colleague is banging out Cat Stevens' "ooh, baby it's a wild world"! Lovely stuff. No reckless predictions from me today - this time yesterday I said it would be all over by this afternoon, but that's not going to happen.