ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Greeted by a typically docile Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) pitch, West Indies were battered into submission as Andrew Strauss led a strong England batting performance with his 15th Test hundred in the third Test yesterday.

After choosing to field, West Indies found the ARG surface as unforgiving as it has been in the past 21 Tests it has hosted and England, led by Strauss' 169, reached 301 for three at the close on the opening day.

The home team would have felt letdown that the ARG pitch did not offer them greater assistance, since ground authorities practically had only two days to prepare it, following the aborted second Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on Friday.

When West Indies captain Chris Gayle took Fidel Edwards out of the attack after the fast bowler's second over and the fourth of the match, it was an early admission from the home team about the conditions.

Though they toiled effortlessly throughout the day, England's batsmen, Strauss in particular, recognised the friendly nature of the surface and sought to send a strong message and bury the misery of Jamaica when they were capsized for 51 in their second innings, to concede the opening Test by an innings and 23 runs.

West Indies had their chances to remove the England captain, but Chris Gayle put down a straightforward chance at slip off Sulieman Benn when the left-handed opener was 47. And then Gayle and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin completely misread the flight of the ball when Strauss, on 71, edged Ryan Hinds between the two of them.

The hosts persevered throughout the afternoon, but Strauss reached his 100, when he worked an over-pitched delivery from Daren Powell through backward square leg for two.

West Indies were made to have second thoughts about their decision to field, when Strauss and Alastair Cook put them under pressure and carried England to 58 without loss at lunch.

After the interval, West Indies had to wait an hour-and-a-half before they made the breakthrough, when Gayle had Cook caught at slip for 52, after the left-handed opener had shared 123 for the first wicket with his captain.

But West Indies continued to struggle when Owais Shah joined Strauss and they took England to 206 for one at tea.

After the break, Gayle employed spin for much of the first hour, allowing Strauss and Shah to get comfortable and add 153 for the second wicket before Taylor separated them.

Taylor ran Shah out for 57 when the batsman pushed a delivery into the off-side and tried to steal a run. The West Indies fast bowler collected the ball on his follow-through and his under-arm throw was unerring.

With play drawing to a close, Gayle claimed the second new ball with England on 291 for two after 87 overs and was rewarded, when Edwards had Strauss caught and bowled miscuing a pull at a short, rising delivery.

The England captain batted for five minutes short of six hours, faced 277 balls and also struck a six - an elegant straight hit out of the ground off Benn.

West Indies kept faith with the 11 that took the field for the aborted second Test, but England chose to bring Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann in to replace Ryan Sidebottom and Monty Panesar.

Rain and a damp outfield delayed the start and following an inspection, started 45 minutes late.

The ARG is hosting a Test for the first time in three years, after the second Test scheduled for the VRCG was abandoned on Friday's opening day because of an unsuitable outfield.

Only 10 balls were possible in the second Test before the umpires chose to abort the Test, following consultation with the two captains and the match referee.

ENGLAND 1st Innings