<p><br />West Indies' fast bowler Fidel Edwards produced a spell of high pace and late swing to scythe through the England middle order on the opening day of the first Test at Lord's on Wednesday. <br /><br />Edwards single-handedly vindicated captain Chris Gayle's decision to ask England to bat by taking three for nine from 22 balls from the Nursery End in the afternoon session. <br /><br />At tea England had reached 182 for four thanks mainly to Ravi Bopara who, batting at number three for the first time in a Test match, played with a sensible blend of caution and aggression to reach 72 not out at the interval. <br /><br />Just a day ago England’s coaching director Andy Flower had said the English players who played in IPL --- Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff -- were not ready for the rigours of the Test cricket. <br /><br />Both Pietersen and Collingwood did looked rusty as long as they managed to remain at the crease. <br /><br />But Bopara played with wonderful timing and displayed a tendency to hang on survive the burst from Edwards. <br /><br />Rest of the England batsmen were guilty of showing impatience against a bowler bowling in good rhythm and with good pace.<br /><br />Edwards began by bowling Alastair Cook for 35 when the England opener dragged a full-length ball on to his stumps, then dismissed Kevin Pietersen with his next delivery. <br /><br />Pietersen, shaping to play the ball to leg, just managed to get his bat to an outswinger and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin took a splendid one-handed catch. Paul Collingwood followed for eight with the total on 109, edging Edwards to Devon Smith at second slip. <br /><br />Wicketkeeper Matt Prior, promoted to number six in the order in the absence of injured all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, again looked a thoroughly competent batsman, passing 1,000 test runs on his way to 42 not out at the break. <br /><br />SCORE BOARD<br /><br />ENGLAND: <br />Strauss c Ramdin b Taylor 16<br />Cook b Edwards 35<br />Bopara (batting) 72<br />Pietersen c Ramdin b Edwards 0<br />Collingwood c Smith b Edwards 8<br />Prior (batting) 42<br />Extras (B-1, W-3, NB-5) 9. <br /><br />Total (for 4 wkts, 58 overs) 182.<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-92, 3-92, 4-109.<br /><br />Bowling: Taylor 13-2-45-1, Edwards 10-2-33-3, Baker 11-4-27-0, Benn 17-2-57-0, Nash 2-1-2-0, Simmons 3-1- -12-0, Gayle 2-0-5-0.</p>
<p><br />West Indies' fast bowler Fidel Edwards produced a spell of high pace and late swing to scythe through the England middle order on the opening day of the first Test at Lord's on Wednesday. <br /><br />Edwards single-handedly vindicated captain Chris Gayle's decision to ask England to bat by taking three for nine from 22 balls from the Nursery End in the afternoon session. <br /><br />At tea England had reached 182 for four thanks mainly to Ravi Bopara who, batting at number three for the first time in a Test match, played with a sensible blend of caution and aggression to reach 72 not out at the interval. <br /><br />Just a day ago England’s coaching director Andy Flower had said the English players who played in IPL --- Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff -- were not ready for the rigours of the Test cricket. <br /><br />Both Pietersen and Collingwood did looked rusty as long as they managed to remain at the crease. <br /><br />But Bopara played with wonderful timing and displayed a tendency to hang on survive the burst from Edwards. <br /><br />Rest of the England batsmen were guilty of showing impatience against a bowler bowling in good rhythm and with good pace.<br /><br />Edwards began by bowling Alastair Cook for 35 when the England opener dragged a full-length ball on to his stumps, then dismissed Kevin Pietersen with his next delivery. <br /><br />Pietersen, shaping to play the ball to leg, just managed to get his bat to an outswinger and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin took a splendid one-handed catch. Paul Collingwood followed for eight with the total on 109, edging Edwards to Devon Smith at second slip. <br /><br />Wicketkeeper Matt Prior, promoted to number six in the order in the absence of injured all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, again looked a thoroughly competent batsman, passing 1,000 test runs on his way to 42 not out at the break. <br /><br />SCORE BOARD<br /><br />ENGLAND: <br />Strauss c Ramdin b Taylor 16<br />Cook b Edwards 35<br />Bopara (batting) 72<br />Pietersen c Ramdin b Edwards 0<br />Collingwood c Smith b Edwards 8<br />Prior (batting) 42<br />Extras (B-1, W-3, NB-5) 9. <br /><br />Total (for 4 wkts, 58 overs) 182.<br /><br />Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-92, 3-92, 4-109.<br /><br />Bowling: Taylor 13-2-45-1, Edwards 10-2-33-3, Baker 11-4-27-0, Benn 17-2-57-0, Nash 2-1-2-0, Simmons 3-1- -12-0, Gayle 2-0-5-0.</p>