By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

Strauss hit his second century in successive Tests

How often do we wonder how the burden of captaincy might affect a captain's form?

It was the hot topic when Kevin Pietersen was appointed last August.

It was a lack of runs that led to Michael Vaughan's tearful departure before him - and yet Andrew Strauss appears to have been liberated by the responsibility of leadership.

This hundred - his second in consecutive Tests - was better than the first.

In Antigua we sat and rubbed our eyes, wondering if this really was Strauss we were watching.

Here, in Barbados, we could sit back and enjoy it in all its glory, safe in the knowledge that this is Strauss truly back to his best.

From fumbling around in the dark, the lights have suddenly been switched on, and such is the transformation in confidence that he lofted (safely and carefully) Sulieman Benn over mid-wicket for six to reach his century.

Strauss was dropped - badly - on 58 by Chris Gayle. This was one three catches and five opportunities that came the West Indies' way.

Their catching has been terrible recently, and poor Fidel Edwards, who bowled his boots off on a dreadfully flat pitch, suffered more than anyone.

Alastair Cook now has a problem against the short ball. He has become a compulsive hooker, but with poor footwork - a fatal combination.

The more he gets out hooking, the more bouncers he will be bowled with the trap set. He simply has to get himself out of the habit.

606: DEBATE There is a myth among England fans that Alastair Cook does not deserve to be dropped. I would question that myth yorker_129-7

Today's misjudgement on 94 cost him a hundred that was there for the taking. That is now 27 innings since his last, despite having made 11 fifties in that time.

Owais Shah scratched about, looking uncertain as to how he should approach his innings when it is precisely the role of a number three to be the playmaker.

He made seven from 47 balls as England threatened to lose their way after tea, and it was only when Gayle gambled and took the second new ball that the runs started to flow again.

In fact, 41 runs came from the last six overs of the day, and Pietersen - who is also becoming a happy, but unreliable hooker - was dropped at long leg.

He will resume looking to take England beyond 500, but the question is whether England have the bowling resources to take 20 wickets.

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