But this mismatch is hard to stomach

England’s opponents some welcome respite from the relentless bowling effort, with Anderson, who conceded just 17 runs from eight overs before the rain fell, their chief tormentor.

Cook, though, is who softened up the tourists during a knock that means the great Wally Hammond, with seven, is now the only England batsman who has more Test double centuries than the Essex opener.

This, though, was by far Cook’s easiest and quickest double ton. His three previous efforts all came in crunch matches in closelyfought series, the 32-year-old notching his first against Australia in Brisbane in the opening match of the 2010-11 Ashes series before the man scoring 294 against India here at Edgbaston the following summer and then 263 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi two winters ago.

However, even the moment Cook reached his landmark in this match was stained by West Indian ineptness, with a misfield from Hope on the thirdman boundary allowing him to go past 200.

It really did sum up the pitiful display so far from opponents who are light years away from what Joe Root’s men will face during this winter’s Ashes series in Australia.

The lopsided nature of the contest then perhaps devalues the runs scored by Dawid Malan, who registered his maiden Test half-century

during a first session

Power-puff unit betrays West Indian greats