THE LIVING DAY-NIGHTS
Cook and Root batter bowlers
ENGLAND captains past and present lit up the first day-night Test on British soil.
Current skipper Joe Root and his predecessor Alastair Cook both bagged centuries on the opening day of the series against West Indies.
And even if the first Test of the three-match series is shaping up to be as one-sided as most had feared, their 248-run partnership for the third wicket thrilled the home crowd.
Root added a touch of class to proceedings by posting 136 to further enhance his authority as captain.
He followed his fine start as skipper in the 3-1 series win over South Africa with his 13th Test hundred as records tumbled.
Supported ably by Cook, he rebuilt an innings that had stalled at 39-2 following the dismissals of debutant opener Mark Stoneman and Tom Westley.
Milestone
After that it wasn’t until deep into the final session that England’s top two batsmen were parted, Root being bowled by Kemar Roach playing a tired shot during the dangerous twilight period.
The partnership was a record for the third wicket by any team in a Test at Edgbaston. It was also the highest partnership so far in day-night Tests, albeit with this being only the fifth one that has taken place.
Root had reached a personal milestone early in the afternoon session, going to 50 for the 11th consecutive Test.
He surpassed John Edrich’s England record of 50s in 10 consecutive matches, established between 1969 and 1971.
The Yorkshireman is now just one behind South African AB De Villiers’ world record ® of 12. Who would back against him equalling that on his home ground of Headingley in next week’s second Test?
Cook continued on serenely after scoring his 31st Test ton, reaching 150 with a superb on-drive.
Earlier in the day, the pink ball moved about to trigger yet another top-order collapse for the hosts.
Stoneman lasted just six deliveries before being bowled by a near-unplayable delivery from Roach.
Westley was also out cheaply as he was trapped lbw on review after missing a straight ball from Miguel Cummins. England won toss ENGLAND 1st Innings A Cook 153 M Stoneman T 8 Westley J 8 Root 136 D Malan 28 Extras 15 Total 3 wkts (90 overs) ........... Fall: 348 To bat: Bowling: