A quick plug for the Ruth Strauss foundation, as it was Red for Ruth Day at Lord’s, raising money to help families deal with an incurable cancer diagnosis.

Jamie Smith speaks, after his sparkling 70 earlier: “If you’d have given us that position two days ago we’d have bitten your arm off – there’s been contributions from everyone

“It’s been a fantastic couple of days really, and it’s exciting to be a part of that England environment. I guess it’s pretty surreal to be out there. It’s a different experience from county cricket when you’ve got about five people walking past you when you’re going out to bat. The ball being softer allowed me to get into the game, and Rooty was helping me out. I don’t tend to bat at 7, it’s a bit tricky at times - my rhythm was slightly off at the start against a world class attack but wanted to take the opportunity when it arose.” Smith then admits he “sold Bash [Bashir] down the river with a run-out and it’s a shame I couldn’t get Jimmy on strike.

As for his keeping: “I think I’ve just been quite relaxed – there’s going to be drops and mistakes - no one’s gonna be perfect, it’s just trying to make the best of it and enjoy the experience and opportunity.”

34th over: West Indies 78-5 (Holder 20, Da Silva 7). Ben Stokes isn’t bowling from the Nursery End any more – Woakes is – but he still almost makes a wicket happen when he leaps onto Holder’s drive at mid-off, swivels and is this close to throwing down the stumps as Holder scampers through for a single. Two from the over.

33rd over: West Indies 76-5 (Holder 19, Da Silva 6). Off goes Anderson, back comes Atkinson, who’s smacked through the covers for four in some style by Holder, who’s at least seeing and hitting the ball cleanly now, as well as paying no attention to Atkinson’s shorter stuff.

32nd over: West Indies 71-5 (Holder 14, Da Silva 6). Stokes finally hooks himself, but keeps it seamy with Woakes, who doesn’t trouble Da Silva but who keeps him honest in another maiden.

“Charles Lomas’s wonderfully evocative email summed up everything I, a Scot who fell in love with the game watching one day games in the John Player / Benson & Hedges league on the BBC in the 80’s, and of course Test matches, love about English cricket,” trills Simon McMahon. “I’ve been an England fan ever since. I can’t honestly say I feel the same about the England football team, but what Gareth Southgate has done over the last few years has made me come as close as I ever have, and likely ever will, to rooting for the England football team. Though I doubt I’ll feel the same way in 20 years about Jude Bellingham as I do about Jimmy Anderson now.” This is why we do this.

31st over: West Indies 71-5 (Holder 14, Dasilva 6). A scurried single from Da Silva opens Anderson’s 10th over. Nowt else is doing though, as Mike Atherton estimates Jimmy has done a Proclaimers, running 500 miles throughout the course of his Test career. And he ran them, unlike the Reid brothers.

30th over: West Indies 70-5 (Holder 14, Dasilva 5). Stokes does love a 10-over marathon, and back he comes once more. The lights are on, clouds are about and it’s all-seam still. Holder gives him at least something to think about with a gorgeously timed four through the covers. Two more leg-byes down to fine leg ensue, followed by another soft-handed two beyond the cordon.

29th over: West Indies 61-5 (Holder 8, Dasilva 5). Anderson’s enduring accuracy is rewarded with the scalp of Athanaze, who is well caught behind by Smith. Da Silva is off the mark promptly, and rounds off the over with a lovely, crisp cover drive. These two are probably West Indies’ best hope of avoiding a total humiliation.

28th over: West Indies 55-4 (Athanaze 22, Holder 7). Stokes can’t prise the ball out of his own hand – this is his ninth in a row – prompting his old colleague Stuart Broad on Sky to tell us how hard it is to persuade him to take a breather. He’s bowling well but I’d give Bashir a go now. Holder, with deft and soft hands, edges for a couple down to wide third man.

27th over: West Indies 53-4 (Athanaze 22, Holder 5). Anderson continues, Athanaze remaining cautious and playing out yet another maiden. Anderson has figures of 1-4 from eight overs.

“I have just heard the standing ovation for Jimmy Anderson walking out to bat as described by TMS. I was lying on my bed, awakening from my old man’s siesta in my house in Languedoc,” brags Charles Lomas, prefacing a lovely slice of nostalgic reverie. “But the field is full of shades, and I remembered Brian Statham’s farewell game for Lancashire. A Roses game in 1968. Old Trafford was full for the occasion and the crowd stood up and applauded him to the wicket. Fred Truman was bowling and did his comedy act, running up from the sight screen for the first ball then releasing a slow full toss. Statham pushed it away for a single and received a big hug when he got to the far end, from the man he had so often opened the bowling with for England. Everybody cheered.

“Lancashire were soon bowled out, and when Yorkshire batted, Brian Statham managed one last stupendous bowling effort. He reduced Yorkshire to 12 for 5, and I remember his sitting on the white wooden boundary board, in front of where I was sitting, in total exhaustion when Jimmy Binks got a nasty blow in the box and there was an unscripted ten-minute delay.

“When I return to Old Trafford, my childhood memories seem to have been twisted through 90 degrees by the realignment of the wicket. But I am glad the two ends at Old Trafford are named after Statham and Anderson.

“I wouldn’t presume to compare these two great bowlers but Statham’s wonderfully lithe, smooth run up and bowling action was like a rag doll coming to life, totally devoid of tension and strain; a melody with a perfect crescendo that still runs through my head to remind me of happy days during my childhood.”

26th over: West Indies 53-4 (Athanaze 22, Holder 5). Stokes raps Holder halfway up the pad, initially issuing a gutteral appeal before realising that his canny strategy – approaching from wide of the crease – rendered it extremely unlikely that was hitting the stumps. He declines a review, wisely.

25th over: West Indies 52-4 (Athanaze 22, Holder 5). “Why is Stokes not giving Bashir a go here?” asks Brendan Large (and me). “Is he purely trying to give Jimmy more overs (as it looks like there won’t be many left)? Surely this would be the perfect time to give the young guy a go. There is little pressure becasue of the match situation and there is obviously something there in the pitch after seeing Motie bowl.”

Back in JimmyWorld, Holder drives Anderson for one and the bowler then tests the left-handed Athanaze with a range of deliveries from around the wicket.

24th over: West Indies 51-4 (Athanaze 22, Holder 4). Stokes overpitches and Athanaze cashes in, clipping stylishly to the long-on boundary for four. He does similar with another cover drive for three, tigerishly chased and fielded by Sir Jimmy, to cheers. A rare chance for West Indies to release the handbrake, that over.

23rd over: West Indies 43-4 (Athanaze 15, Holder 3). Despite Motie’s success earlier, England still eschew spin, taking Atkinson out of the attack to enable Anderson to return. Jimmy continues to be probing and accurate, pushing it in to the left-handed Athanaze – because of course he is – but the latter manages to turn one round the corner for a single

22nd over: West Indies 42-4 (Athanaze 14, Holder 3). Stokes continues for his sixth over from the Nursery End – quite a long spell for him, but it’s been a smart and probing one. And this is another maiden.

A contentious suggestion from our old mucker Simon McMahon: “Sadly, it looks as though this Test could well be over before lunch on Day 3. Meaning no cricket at all over the weekend. I know it’s not how these things work, but I’m sure plenty of Day 4 / 5 ticket holders would happily watch a T20 between these two sides on those days..?”

21st over: West Indies 42-4 (Athanaze 14, Holder 3). Some welcome strike rotation as Holder flicks Atkinson to deep midwicket for a single, Athanaze pushes for another and Holder pulls round the corner for one more.

20th over: West Indies 39-4 (Athanaze 13, Holder 2). Holder hacks a single towards mid-on in an otherwise uneventful Stokes over.

“Well, this already feels a little inevitable doesn’t it?” sighs friend of the OBO Guy Hornsby. “Not only did Jimmy not get a chance to reverse sweep his last ball in Test cricket for 6 (take *that*, Stuart) but the West Indies top 6 has a rather brittle feel to it, even if England are bowling superbly here in helpful conditions. I find myself wanting a stirring rearguard, both for the touring side’s own confidence and the wider series narrative, because this isn’t about a strong WI, a slightly tired cliché, but competitive Test cricket in of itself. Come on Alick and Mickyle!”

We’re always saying this, because it’s always true. The big three v the rest inequality is the biggest problem Test cricket currently has. By miles.

19th over: West Indies 38-4 (Athanaze 13, Holder 1). Athanaze nudges Atkinson smartly off his hips down to fine leg before Hodge’s attempt at an aggressive counterattack is ended swiftly when he plays on. Some much-needed experience comes in now, in the form of Jason Holder, who avoids a pair with an unconvincing inside edge to fine leg for one. They’re scrapping for crumbs now.

“In this very uneven contest dominated by England,” writes Colom Fordham, “it’s a relief to observe the rare flashes of positivity for the West Indies, such as the batsman Athanaze who also played some dashing shots in the first innings, and the left-arm spinner Motie who clean bowled none other than two major English scalps Root and Stokes. Let’s hope, for the sake of test cricket and third day ticket holders (not to mention the OBO faithful), that Athanaze makes a big innings and helps ensure there is a smidgeon of play tomorrow.”

18th over: West Indies 36-3 (Athanaze 12, Hodge 4). Stokes continues to prove he’s back as a fully-fledged all-rounder, angling in an outswinger to snare Louis. Kavem Hodge breaks with his side’s convention by pulling his first ball for four. But it’s a long, long way back for West Indies now and those Saturday tickets are at serious risk of being refunded.

17.1 overs: West Indies 32-2 (Louis 14, Athanaze 12). Louis shows his technical correctness again with a nice clip in front of square on the legside for two off Stokes, who wants the ball looked at. The umpires oblige and declare drinks.

17th over: West Indies 30-2 (Louis 12, Athanaze 12). Hurrah! Some runs! Four of the blighters. Athanaze is off the mark, 15th ball, with a late dab beyond the cordon for four. Enthused, he does exactly the same next ball – four more. Better still is the leg-up swivel-pull he executes two balls later, which races to the square leg boundary. Lara-esque, as Andrew Strauss says on comms, burnishing the West Indies nostalgia industry as we’re all so wont to do. But it was a fine shot, in 2024, and the best of the innings so far.

16th over: West Indies 18-2 (Louis 12, Athanaze 0). In mitigation, England have had all the conditions in their favour – bright sunshine throughout their innings today, while it’s gone cloudy again in the past hour – but the hosts are totally on top. Louis tries to pull a shorter one but can’t quite catch it cleanly and Stokes has yet another maiden. Eighteen runs off 16 overs.

15th over: West Indies 18-2 (Louis 12, Athanaze 0). Athanaze is struggling with Atkinson’s pace and movement at times, making a hash of an attempted pull that grubs through to the keeper, and West Indies just can’t buy a run at the moment.

14th over: West Indies 18-2 (Louis 12, Athanaze 0). On the subject of West Indies past and present, I’m just trying to think of other international sporting teams so burdened by a contrast between a gilded glorious past and a straitened, struggling present. It can’t be easy dealing with all that, as West Indies players have had to for a generation now (while still sporadically excelling in other forms of the game). Anyway, another maiden is competently defended by their batters from Stokes.

13th over: West Indies 18-2 (Louis 12, Athanaze 0). A hurried and uncertain, but completed, single starts Atkinson’s second over – perhaps an indication of the deep bother West Indies are now in. But they play out the rest of a stern examination from the bowler with composure.

“Great to see Big Clive in the crowd at Lord’s 49 years on from his extraordinary century in the World Cup Final here,” writes Gary Naylor. “Batting from the future if ever there was such a thing. Three figures off 82 balls when anything above three an over was considered a decent rate.”

12th over: West Indies 17-2 (Louis 11, Athanaze 0). Stokes replaces Woakes at the Nursery End, and makes that instant impact he so often does, snaring McKenzie in front. He discomforts Athanaze straight off too, short outside off and jagging off the seam. He’s looking like the Stokes-the-bowler of yore here, as he has for a fair part of the county summer too.

It is a bit disconcerting to hear (or rather, not hear) so few West Indies fans in the crowd by the way. The days when they used to pack this place are very long gone.

11th over: West Indies 17-1 (Louis 11, McKenzie 0). Now Jimmy has his reward, it’s in with the new, as Atkinson replaces him at the Pavilion End as he did in the first dig, and the change of pace offers new tests to the tourists – Louis has to step out of the way of a steepling bouncer outside off, first up. He also faces a zesty lbw shout third ball from an inswinger which is turned down but England review (Ollie Pope making the call as Stokes is on the boundary’s edge in the process of returning to the field). It’s a waste though, as it was going a bit too high and a bit too far down the slope, and Louis marks his reprieve by slightly awkwardly nudging a shortish ball all the way to the Tavern boundary for four. Atkinson again making things happen though.

10th over: West Indies 13-1 (Louis 7, McKenzie 0). Woakes is doing his bit here to keep things tight and in control, conceding only a leg-bye.

“Not to be pedantic (OK, to be pedantic),” writes Simon Lacey (and 1,057 others) “but that Withnail quote in the 4^th over is originally from Hamlet – ‘What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god!’”

I know I know, but sampling is an art form too. And in all honesty, Withnail’s version of that Hamlet soliloquy is the best I’ve seen. Perhaps he could have made it on the stage after all, rather than just cigar commercials, and his agent really should have licked 10 per cent of the arses.

9th over: West Indies 12-1 (Louis 7, McKenzie 0). Jimmy castles Brathwaite for Test wicket No 702, eight of which have been the Windies captain – it had been coming. The left-handed McKenzie then plays out the wicket maiden, and warm applause cascades around Lord’s

“The obo is keeping me company at work, as ever,” writes Debbie Valentine. “It’s not a Withnail quote but the quote that keeps coming into my mind about Jimmy’s retirement is the great philosopher Winne the Pooh, saying “how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”.

“How lucky all England cricket fans have been over the last 21 years to have such a great player in the team. Jimmy’s first test summer in 2003 was the year as a bored teenager after my GCSEs that my much-missed dad told me to watch the cricket on channel 4 to fill some time. I wasn’t sure but gave it a go & fell in love with this ridiculous, beautiful sport. Thanks to my dad for nurturing that love, thanks to Jimmy for all the love he put in.”

Aw, welling up a bit here, which may not be for the last time in this Test. Is there a finer sight in all sport than an on-song seamer inducing an edge with a forensic outswinger? And no one has ever done it better from these shores than Anderson.

8th over: West Indies 12-0 (Brathwaite 4, Louis 7). I like the look of Louis. Good technique and stance, sensible and strong on the offside, as he demonstrates by creaming Woakes through the covers for four. Literally, textbook.

7th over: West Indies 8-0 (Brathwaite 4, Louis 3). This Anderson spell deserves a wicket, and Brathwaite has certainly missed/left more than he’s hit off him, but the West Indies captain will be content enough with his defensive work. Anderson’s figures so far: 4-3-2-0.

6th over: West Indies 8-0 (Brathwaite 4, Louis 3). A nudge off his hips brings Brathwaite a single as the West Indies try to whittle down this formidable lead in cautious fashion. The England seamers aren’t giving them anything to be fair.

Overseas TMS link klaxon! Thanks Raiza Billam

5th over: West Indies 7-0 (Brathwaite 4, Louis 3). Jimmy foxes Louis with a beautiful late away swinger, then nips one back, then an out-seamer in a proper showreel of why we’ll miss him so much. Louis does get bat and ball crisply for a drive through the covers for two

“Surely the Withnail quote required for the melancholy mood of Jimmy’s last game is this: ‘But old now, old. No true beauty without decay.’” says Peter Salmon. I fear we’ve started an unstoppable conversational thread now. We’re coming back in here …

4th over: West Indies 5-0 (Brathwaite 4, Louis 1). Brathwaite gets the first boundary of the innings, seizing on a full delivery from Woakes to cover drive for four.

“Given Ali Martin’s Jimmy Anderson/ “hippy wigs in Woolworths” allusion,” writes Jonathan Post “and the proximity of Lord’s to London Zoo - wasn’t there also room for Withnail’s elegiac description of Jimmy’s art: ‘in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel!’”

3rd over: West Indies 1-0 (Brathwaite 0, Louis 1). Anderson continues on a good probing line and length – no extravagant swing but no room for Brathwaite to score. And it’s another maiden.

“Imagine if WI score 251...then Anderson could open and score the winning run,” suggests Brendan Large. “Although in that situation against the new ball he may well get a duck anyway. Has he ever scored the winning runs in a test?”

I don’t believe he has. He came close in a losing Test in New Zealand last year, and has been involved in some memorable and decisive rearguards, but no. This could be his final chance.

2nd over: West Indies 1-0 (Brathwaite 0, Louis 1). Louis gets West Indies’ second innings up and running with a push through the offside for a single off Woakes. It’s the only scoring shot of a tidy over.

“Hi Tom.” Hi Phil Russell. “While Jimmy didn’t get to face a ball in what is in all probability his final innings (unless he is on nighthawk duty!) He has at least added another onto a record possibly even more impressive than his wickets tally – his Test ‘not outs’ record. Unlikely to ever be beaten you would have to think!”

1st over: West Indies 0-0 (Brathwaite 0, Louis 0). Off we go again then, with Jimmy Anderson’s final bowling innings in Test cricket. From the pavilion end as per. And he begins with a grubber that keeps inordinately low outside off stump and sends down a tidy maiden that has enough in it to make Brathwaite look uncomfortable. And the capricious elements in this pitch should help England see this job through

More on Peter’s Lord’s trip. I’d definitely recommend bread and fine cheese and generally bringing your own sarnies. A bottle of wine gives you better value than cans of anything, and though excess fancy dress can sometimes be a pain, the ban seems a tad churlish. And certainly less antisocial than the tedious Lord’s ritual of ostentatiously popping Champagne corks off the top tier of the Nursery End stands onto the outfield.

And Julian Menz is asking for the overseas TMS link, which I don’t have to hand. Can anyone oblige?

“I fear that I have seen the last of Jimmy’s batting, even if there is play on Saturday,” sobs Peter Gibbs. “I too have tickets for then, and praying RAIN RIGHT NOW. I’m okay about drawing if Stokes decides to play out all the wickets rather than declare. Jimmy’s goodbye should not be truncated for a quick win.

“On another note, wonderful Lord’s being the only one that allows food and (limited) drink to be taken in...but no fancy dress. You get one bottle of wine or such each....what should one choose?. Food wise, I’m thinking: great bread and cheese but fancy dress...I wanted to honour the great retiring man himself but all I can smuggle in is a cardboard mask. Are there any suggestions for fancy dress get-arounds....or plausible excuses for something more....well, “fancy”? Lots of questions, sorry.”

I have many opinions on Lord’s etiquette and refreshment. In the meantime, remember Jimmy’s batting this way:

So, England lead by 250. And they’ll take an early tea. You fancy Ben Stokes would have wanted to have a crack at the West Indies batters again in the evening session anyway, so he’ll be looking forward to this.

In the meantime, some interval reading – from Tanya on the struggles of Afghanistan’s women:

And another re-up for Ali’s day one match report, simply for surely having the most Withnail and I allusions in any cricket report ever. My boys, my boys, we’re at the end of an age …

89th over: England 360-8 (Smith 59, Bashir 0) Motie is the new bowler at the Nursery End now. Smith takes a single, giving Bashir a closer look at his fellow spinner, who’s still mixing it up nicely and must fancy his chances of cleaning up the tail. In the meantime, Sky comms chat once again drifts into almost treating this summer’s series as pre-Ashes friendlies. This series-stratification does no one any favours.

88th over: England 359-8 (Smith 58, Bashir 0) The game could really do without another promising fast bowler’s career being perpetually injury-blighted so let’s hope Shamar J’s pains can be eased. Bashir’s doggedly convention No 10’s innings continues with a series of leaves and misses at Seales before he drives to point for no run, prompting sarky cheers at bat finding ball.

87th over: England 359-8 (Smith 58, Bashir 0) Shamar Joseph returns from the Nursery End but Smith continues the quite old-school tactic of turning down singles to protect the tail-ender from the strike. A dab beyond gully brings Smith two though. As the camera pans across the crowd to two of the sport’s ultimate alpha-Gods, Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd, Smith pulls one right out of Sir Viv’s copyback with a fearsome bludgeon into the grand stand for SIX. Shamar is moving gingerly and it looks as if this might be a one-over spell. Off he trudges again.

86th over: England 351-8 (Smith 50, Bashir 0) Seales is doing all the things you’d expect to do against an inexperienced tail-ender – a couple straight at the stumps, a bit of short stuff – but the Somerset spinner is equal to it, even if he essays a slightly risky leave at an in-swinger. Smith gets the strike back and might have a bit of a go now.

85th over: England 351-8 (Smith 50, Bashir 0) Holder’s bowling well, moving it both way. Alas, for him, when he nips one back up the slope it wobbles wildly to the left of the diving Da Silva and goes for four byes. Holder then sends down the slowest and loopiest of slower balls that Smith can’t get anywhere near outside off. And follows with another, almost a beamer, that the wicketkeeper-batter can only fend off and he surrenders the strike. Good T20-ish smarts from the bowler there.

84th over: England 347-8 (Smith 50, Bashir 0) I was just bemoaning the slight meandering nature of the afternoon session’s play before those two wickets. But things might liven up now, as an assertive lofted thump down the ground for four by Smith suggests. Seales responds with a shorter one angled in that Smith hacks and misses at. But he brings up his 50 next ball with another aggressive swipe to square leg for one. Another impressive Surrey debutant. And a player on his home debut, Shoaib Bashir, prods and misses tentatively at his first ball but survives.

83rd over: England 342-8 (Smith 45, Bashir 0) Holder continues and Smith clips him neatly past Shamar Joseph, thankfully back on the pitch, for a couple before Holder zips a shapely away-swinger past the batter’s outside edge. Gus Atkinson gets to face his first ball in Test cricket and, having taken a wicket with his second ball yesterday, he’s out to his first with bat in hand, Holder putting it in the perfect area outside off.

That’ll be enough from me today. Tom Davies is here to have some fun. Thanks to all who messaged in!

81st over: England 335-6 (Smith 42, Woakes 19) It’s Jason Holder who takes the second new ball and Smith shows some initiative, skipping down the pitch to stroke through the covers for four. Woakes punches nicely into the off side for one.

80th over: England 329-6 (Smith 37, Woakes 18) This should be the last over of spin for a while as Brathwaite twirls away from around the wicket. There’s nearly a run-out chance off the final ball of the over, with Woakes keen on a single that wasn’t there before turning back.

79th over: England 327-6 (Smith 36, Woakes 17) Fine shot from Smith, getting on the back foot to punch Motie through the covers for four.

78th over: England 321-6 (Smith 30, Woakes 17) Kraigg Brathwaite continues, making West Indies’ mission quite obvious: to race away to the second new ball.

77th over: England 318-6 (Smith 29, Woakes 16) Motie continues over the wicket to Smith but goes around to Woakes, and it’s another quick over that concedes a single.

76th over: England 317-6 (Smith 28, Woakes 16) Shamar Joseph gets a go from the Nursery End … and he’s down on the ground after four balls. He’s stretching himself out, having had some trouble yesterday, too. The physio’s on to work the hamstrings. Joseph eventually gets up, making his way back to the top of his run-up … no he’s actually walking off the field. Another blow for West Indies. Kraigg Brathwaite takes the ball to complete the over with his gentle offies.

75th over: England 315-6 (Smith 27, Woakes 15) Motie goes over the wicket, aiming for the footmarks outside leg stump. Short leg and short fine leg await for some action. Another maiden for Motie.

74th over: England 315-6 (Smith 27, Woakes 15) Alzarri Joseph thunders in with Woakes on strike, a man waiting at leg gully for a flick into his hands. Joseph gets the outside edge, though, and the ball beats Jason Holder at slip, moving to his right. Joseph goes short next up and is making Woakes a little uncomfortable at the moment; the next ball beats the outside edge. And then again to close the over. Good set from the West Indies paceman.

73rd over: England 310-6 (Smith 27, Woakes 11) Motie regains his rhythm, running through six dots with ease.

72nd over: England 310-6 (Smith 27, Woakes 11) Smith sees Alzarri Joseph drop short and tries to play a KP-like cross-bat slap straight down the ground; it pops over mid-off for a couple.

71st over: England 307-6 (Smith 24, Woakes 11) Smith calmly flicks a Motie full toss through the leg side for four before Shamar Joseph denies him another one with an excellent stop in the covers.

70th over: England 300-6 (Smith 17, Woakes 11) Alzarri Joseph is in from the other end and is too straight with his first ball, Woakes tickling him down the leg side for four. Joseph beats Smith outside off before the keeper glances into the on side to bring up 300.

Back to general ticketing sadness, Martin Whitaker is concerned:

Sympathetic as I am to those with weekend tickets, I’m starting to worry about seeing any play tomorrow…

69th over: England 294-6 (Smith 16, Woakes 6) The very impressive Motie begins proceedings after lunch, with Woakes on strike. The spinner drops short with his fourth delivery, but Woakes can only pat the ball back to him. A flick behind square leg brings Woakes a single and keeps him on strike for the next over.

Hello again, all, was just off grabbing some lunch. The umpires are walking out, the players on their way behind them.

68th over: England 293-6 (Smith 16, Woakes 5) This should be the last over before lunch, with Seales running in from the Pavilion End. Smith knocks for a single before Woakes swivels a short ball for one to close the session.

67th over: England 291-6 (Smith 15, Woakes 4) What a shot from Woakes first ball, pressing forward to drive through cover for four.

66th over: England 287-5 (Smith 15, Root 68) Lovely from Smith, whipping Seales through midwicket for four before finding another boundary with an off-drive.

Yas Rana, the excellent host of the Wisden podcast, is sat next to me in the press box and reckons Smith’s doppelganger is, um, Jack Hobbs. Google away: he’s sort of got a point.

65th over: England 279-5 (Smith 7, Root 68) Motie’s running through his overs too quick for this OBO-er. Smith and Root exchange singles.

64th over: England 277-5 (Smith 6, Root 67) Despite Holder’s pressure, he’s replaced at his end by Jayden Seales, and Smith ends the over with a wonderful straight drive … that rattles the stumps at the non-striker’s end. A maiden is the end result.

Nick Parish is keen on turning general ticketing sadness into gladness.

I am another who is very sad about the prospect of no play on Saturday. It was going to be my son’s first test match, and my first at Lord’s. On the other hand, it sounds as though there will be loads of us cricket fans free on Saturday with nothing to do and an empty cricket square staring us in the face. Who’s for a quick T20? After all, surely the only thing better than spectating at Lord’s would be playing at Lord’s.

MCC, are you listening? Give the people what they want.

63rd over: England 277-5 (Smith 6, Root 67) Motie is quick with his work, as Smith collects the only run off the over.

62nd over: England 276-5 (Smith 5, Root 67) Holder has taken control at his end, but Smith does steal a single at the end of the over.

A stat that caught me by surprise:

61st over: England 274-5 (Smith 4, Root 66). Root deftly sweeps Motie around the corner for four, taking advantge of an overpitched delivery that was running down the leg side.

More general ticketing sadness, this time from Lorraine Reese.

After 14 years of failed attempts I finally got my twin sister into cricket during last year’s Ashes. Her favourite bowler is Jimmy and all she wanted was to see him bowl live just once, so we got tickets for Saturday (she’s a teacher so weekdays aren’t possible). She’s pretty gutted at the moment, as it’s looking increasingly likely the game will be over by then. She may never forgive me for getting her into cricket!

60th over: England 267-5 (Smith 4, Root 59) Smith finally has the strike against Holder, and he shuffles down the pitch but can’t get the accurate seamer away. Just a single off it.

59th over: England 266-5 (Smith 4, Root 58) Motie grants Smith a lovely gift: a long hop that is pulled away for the Surrey batter’s first runs in Test cricket.

58th over: England 262-5 (Smith 0, Root 58) It’s very much Holder v Root at the Pavilion End, with Smith still waiting for a go at the quick. Two off the over.

Katie Allen writes in again:

To add to my general ticketing sadness (very good btw) from 10:37 – from my point of view this is entirely down to a Wednesday start, which is the devil’s work and entirely against nature. My husband is a teacher and can’t take time off work to get to the game any earlier – we knew getting Saturday tickets was a risk but worth it to give Jimmy a send-off. I know we’ll get a refund if there’s no play, but this is a one-off occasion, we’re travelling up from Wales, it will be gutting if we don’t get to see it.

Ah well, can’t be helped.

Ah, that’s tough. I really hope you get some action. A Thursday start is certainly more preferable.

57th over: England 260-5 (Smith 0, Root 56) Smith is up against Motie, and he plays out a maiden.

56th over: England 260-5 (Smith 0, Root 56) Jamie Smith is in for his first innings in Test cricket but it’s Root who has the strike against Holder. He adds four more with a tickle down the leg side.

54th over: England 250-4 (Stokes 3, Root 47) Jason Holder gets the ball after the break and gives nothing away to produce a maiden.

Simon McMahon joins in on the general ticketing sadness (a tip of the hat to Tailenders).

I’m sorry to have to break it to John Tumbridge, but this Test ain’t going to Day 5. I’m sure there’s probably still cheap tickets available for the Men’s singles final at Wimbledon if he’s looking for something to take his mind off England v Spain on Sunday evening…

53rd over: England 250-4 (Stokes 3, Root 47) Surprisingly, after that bouncer to get rid of Brook, West Indies haven’t gone full pelt with the short ball, though Alzarri Joseph does close his over with one. Root guides it for a single. Time for drinks.

52nd over: England 247-4 (Stokes 2, Root 45) Shamar Joseph decides to opt for full-and-straight against Stokes, though the two men on the leg-side boundary are waiting for the bouncer … It doesn’t come as Stokes drives through the on-side for two.

“Katie (10.37) and John (11.46) both get my sympathy,” writes Tom. “I too have Day 4 tickets: was hoping to be at the send off for our greatest bowler as I was for our (statistically) greatest batter. Will need some serious weather now for this to occur.” Or a magnificent effort with the bat from West Indies.

51st over: England 244-4 (Stokes 0, Root 44) Alzarri Joseph goes short to Stokes first up; this is the tactic now for West Indies, with two men back on the leg-side rope. A fuller delivery outside off closes the over.

50th over: England 241-3 (Brook 50, Root 41) Just one off Shamar Joseph’s over.

“I feel for Katie 10:37,” writes John Tumbridge. “I agree fully, mainly as I have cheapo Sunday tickets, I couldn’t contemplate taking advantage of the generous offer to take a Hospitality seat at £799 plus Vat. Is it cowardly to pray for rain?”

£799. Yuck.

48th over: England 237-3 (Brook 48, Root 39) Shamar Joseph gives it a go from the Pavilion End, dropping short to Brook who hooks the final ball of the over for six. England are motoring.

47th over: England 231-3 (Brook 42, Root 39) Root now pulls Alzarri Joseph for four before flicking the next ball through square leg for another boundary. Joseph is going at close to seven an over; England are batting aggressively without doing anything really risky.

Here’s a random musical interlude (what I’ve been listening to recently):

46th over: England 218-3 (Brook 41, Root 28) A shortish ball from Seales sits up comfortably for Root to pull away for four, and a perfect drive through cover point brings England’s No 4 another boundary. West Indies’ quicks haven’t really delivered any yorkers so far today, which is a bit of a surprise, particularly when the pitch is offering very little.

45th over: England 210-3 (Brook 41, Root 20) Shamar is off, Alzarri’s in from the Nursery End. He gives Root a single and Brook moves to 41 with a guided slash outside off behind point for four.

44th over: England 205-3 (Brook 37, Root 19) Delightful from Brook, driving Seales through the covers for four. There’s no real movement out there for the quicks, the sun is baking this pristine-looking pitch and England are past 200. A tough day awaits for the West Indies … unless England so something silly.

43rd over: England 197-3 (Brook 29, Root 19) Brook finally gets the strike and is tempted with the second ball of the over, swishing his bat outside off as the ball moves away from him and carries into the gloves of Da Silva. A clip through midwicket grants him two. A single brings Root back on, and he flicks nicely through the leg-side for three, Alzarri Joseph denying a boundary with some fine fielding at cow corner.

42nd over: England 190-3 (Brook 25, Root 16) Jayden Seales has the ball from the Pavilion End, and after beginning with two gullies, one of the men moves out to cover. It’s a tight start from the quick: maiden.

41st over: England 190-3 (Brook 25, Root 16) A bit of low bounce on this pitch, forcing Root to really get down to keep out Joseph’s straight delivery. Joseph is focused on rattling the stumps, everything angled in to the right-hander. Root nicks a single from the final ball of the over, dropping the ball into the covers.

Alrighty, Shamar Joseph will get things started from the Nursery End, with Joe Root on strike. Let’s go.

The players are making their way out on to the field with their red caps on as part of Red for Ruth day.

Ian Palmer writes in:

I grew up watching the West Indies, Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams (nicest man on the planet), Walsh, Ambrose etc, and I always thought watching cricket there looked like my idea of heaven, the atmosphere in the stands, pools, the rum..... so I vowed to go and watch a test there some day, but I only wanted to go and watch when there were 2 really competitive sides playing a ding dong of a test series. That would be the best. I really want this side to come good and be competitive. Please come good. I have dreams to fulfill.

To be fair, Ian, England haven’t won a Test series in the Caribbean since 2004; it’s usually quite an even contest when the two teams meet there. Get yourself over! Also worth remembering that West Indies have won a Test on each of their last two tours here, so they shouldn’t be written off so easily.

Understandable disagreement from Katie here.

Only just clocked that Atkinson’s display yesterday was only his second five-wicket haul in professional cricket. Despite being 26 he’s still quite fresh to this whole thing, this just his 20th first-class match.

Would be great to see him bat with it on.

Here’s all of our coverage from day one.