Jonathan Agnew column

By Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

Ravi Bopara hooks Fidel Edwards in Barbados

Like his Essex team-mate Alastair Cook, Bopara has to do something about his hook shot

The third day will be a real test of England's patience and stamina as they try to chip their way through the West Indies' batting line up.

If the bowlers had any thoughts about an easy task, they would have been swept away by the ease at which Devon Smith and Ramnaresh Sarwan added 72 before the close following the controversial wicket of Chris Gayle via the referral system.

It was a decision that split opinion in the commentary boxes at Kensington when Darryl Harper overruled the on-field umpire Russell Tiffin and gave Gayle out lbw for six.

Bearing in mind the role of the third umpire is to find overwhelming evidence that the original decision was wrong (and it is very important to remember that when considering these referrals), I thought Gayle was unlucky.

The ball might have struck the leg stump, it might not - that is not sufficient to overturn the decision.

Had Harper said not out, no one would have complained. Surely there was some doubt? My colleagues in the TV box saw it differently - and I thought the use of technology was supposed to remove controversy!

Ravi Bopara rode a generous stroke of luck when he was dropped on four to score exactly 100 more.

606: DEBATE

Devon Smith could get himself a century on this wicket, in fact, even Devon Malcolm might if we had drafted him in

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There is a delightful ease about his batting that, when he gets out, might infuriate us. And like his Essex team-mate, Alastair Cook, he has to do something about his hook shot.

But he played some beautiful strokes and flicks through midwicket; let's hope this is the kick-start his international career needed.

And how does Matt Prior's gamble to return home to see his new-born baby look now? Tim Ambrose - dropped on 0 - grabbed his unexpected opportunity with both hands to make a rapid and fluent 76 not out.

If he keeps wicket tidily, it would be a difficult decision to drop him for the final Test.

Depending on how severe you are, West Indies missed at least five chances - Geoff Boycott made it seven - on the sort of flat pitch that breaks bowlers' hearts.

If England are to level the series here, they can't afford to fluff a single one.