Rain trumps England and West Indies

England and the West Indies endured a frustrating morning as rain meant there was no play before lunch today, the second day of the second Test at the Riverside.

A small smattering of spectators were in the ground which yesterday had witnessed the smallest first-day Test crowd of modern times in England.

But with light rain still falling and the pitch and square fully covered, their prospects seeing play resume soon after the lunch break were slim.

England, having won the toss, were 302 for two overnight.

Left-handed opener Alastair Cook was 126 not out, having batted for the entire first day's play. Nightwatchman James Anderson was unbeaten on four.

England's total had so far been built around a second-wicket stand of 213 between 24-year-old Essex duo Cook and Ravi Bopara, who made 108 before being bowled with the new ball by Lionel Baker shortly before Thursday's close.

Bopara's century was his third in as many Test innings.

He became only the fifth Englishman to achieve that feat and first since ex-England captain Graham Gooch, his mentor at Essex, in 1990 against India.

The West Indies found life tough on a flat pitch with little in it for their pace bowlers.

But as they had done in his two previous centuries against them, they did drop Bopara before he reached three figures.

The West Indies did take a wicket before lunch when captain and off-spinner Chris Gayle, primarily an opening batsman, had rival skipper Andrew Strauss caught behind for 26 by wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin after the Middlesex left-hander gloved an intended sweep.

England lead this two-Test series 1-0 after a crushing 10-wicket win inside three days at Lord's last week.

If they avoid defeat in this match they will regain the Wisden Trophy they lost during a five-Test series in the Caribbean earlier this year.