England skipper Andrew Strauss and his West Indies counterpart Chris Gayle put aside their differences over the importance of Test cricket as they prepare for the toss on day of the second Test at the Riverside
The sun comes out to play at the Riverside but it's chilly and there's just a sprinkling of spectators in the ground for the final match of the two-Test series
England, who won the first Test by 10 wickets inside three days at Lord's, make a steady start on a slow pitch which offers the pace bowlers little encouragement and it's not long before the spinners are on
Alastair Cook looks in determined mood but there's little early excitement for the few spectators in the ground as both openers adopt a watchful approach while they play themselves in
Strauss start to pick up the pace but is given out when he gloves a Gayle delivery behind to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin - England 69-1 and Gayle wins this duel with England's skipper
Number three Ravi Bopara, seeking to score a Test century for the third match in a row, looks in great nick and helps his Essex team-mate take England to lunch on 85-1
There are some brave spectators in the sparse crowd making the most of the sunshine - and trying to bring a Caribbean feel to the north of England
Bopara plays strokes all around the wicket in another composed innings in his new role at first wicket down as England dominate the second session at the Riverside
Cook continues to impress and advances to 82 not out as the Essex duo put on more than a hundred before reaching tea on a comfortable 184-1
Cook looks in total control and notches up his ninth Test century off 209 balls, including 11 fours, as England make West Indies toil in the field
Bopara, having just struck spinner Sulieman Benn for a four, a six and another four, brings up his third Test century in a row - he is only the fifth England batsman to achieve the feat
Bopara fails to make it through to stumps as Lionel Baker bowls him, ending a 213-run partnership with fellow Essex batsman Cook, but England end the day in complete control on 302-2
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