First Test, Lord's (day two):
England 313-7 v West Indies
Ravi Bopara and Graeme Swann resumed in confident fashion after bad light stopped play on day two of the first Test against West Indies at Lord's.
Bopara returned to the crease on 118 not out after his crucial century on day one helped England reach 289-7.
The Essex right-hander and Swann, who accepted an offer of the light, will look to push towards an imposing total.
England's new-look attack, including debutant seamers Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan, will then take centre stage.
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By Tom Fordyce
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606: DEBATE
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e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Tom Fordyce' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606 . (Not all contributions can be used)
1144: Eng 325-7
The light must be awful - Graeme Swann has just driven Jerome Taylor for successive fours through cover. The West Indies team don't look hugely into this - and as I type the words, Swann smashes another through the same slot for four more. Champagne, anyone? On the Flintoff front, he's now seated in the members' section of the pavilion. Since he's not wearing a tie and jacket, I expect him to be thrown out shortly by a brace of furious stewards.
1140: Hello - we're off again. Or rather, back on again.
From Paul in Lausanne, TMS inbox: "I expect the reason Flintoff hasn't been up to any high-jinks with the crutches is because he is so used to having them that the novelty has worn off."
1135: A glimpse there of Andrew Strauss on the England balcony, feet up on the ironwork, staring out at the skies like a man considering a second bowl of breakfast cereal. The cover is on in the middle, but just to give the groundsmen something to do. Around the ground, the brand-new floodlights tower, as unused as Geoff Boycott's self-deprecation.
From Duncan Garfield, TMS inbox: "Surely the Sir Alan (Sugar not Stanford) has taught you by now to know the market place, and I fully expect to outsell you in the UK market with my 'Pessimeter'. Me thinks you should try the USA for your fancy goods."
1132: The cricket version of bad light is a strange thing indeed. You'd sunbathe in Leeds in this.
From Mike Bell in Ashford, TMS inbox: "With Swann's Test career still in its infancy, it would be nice to think that shot for four through extra cover could become his cygneture shot. Sorry."
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1125: What's this? The umpires have the Light Meters of Doom out, and the England pair are trudging off. Can't say they looked hugely troubled by the conditions so far, but there you go. Fetch yourself a hot beverage and sponge finger and I'll keep you posted.
1123: Eng 313-7
Change in the field for Edwards - he's lost a slip and gained a short extra cover, clearly fearful of the flashing Swanny blade. He drops short and is hoicked away for two - Swann moves to 22, his highest Test score. Super riposte from Edwards next up - a devilish away-swinger that almost clatters the Swann timbers.
From Russell Plumb, TMS inbox: "RE: 10.50: Wouldn't 'Optimometer' have been easier? Although I think Optismatron is a better name."
1117: Eng 308-7
Who's that lurking inside the England balcony, wobbling around on crutches? It's Fred, that's who, accepting a cup of tea proffered by a servile Alastair Cook. No sign yet of any crutch-related high-jinks of the sort enjoyed by people around the world - how far can you travel on one swing, pretend the crutch is a machine-gun etc. Two singles.
1113: Eng 306-7
Yup - Benn was merely preparing the way for Skiddy Fiddy. A stiff-looking creaky opener down leg is followed by another that Swann tickles for a single, before Bopara drops one at his feet and scampers through for another. Drops one in the cricketing sense, I should say. Hello - Swann takes a stride down the track and smashes Fidel back over his head for a brutal four. Next ball, as all and sundry expect a take-that bouncer, Edwards pitches one up and gets Swanned again - straight through cover for another flashing four.
1107: Eng 296-7
Jerome Taylor from the Pavilion End, and he's taken the new ball too. Three slips and a gully in, and Swann hips away a leg-bye before Bopara flips another loose one away to fine leg for another. Radar a touch wonky at the mo. Another leg-side loosener is tucked away by Swann for one more single. Early-doors lack of atmos at Lord's.
From Richard in Pinner, TMS inbox: "I predict optimistically that today Tim Bresnan will take 6-38 in helpful conditions which should see him retain his place just long enough to take 0-193 against the Aussies in Cardiff."
1102: Eng 293-7
Sulieman Benn to get us underway from the Nursery End. Might just be to get Fidel down the other end. Ravi drives gently and picks up a squeaky single as mid-off mis-fields. Swann pushes gently to point and strolls one of his own. Lord's only a third full, you'd have to say. Under these conditions it might make sense for the supporters to huddle together and take turns on the perimeter. A brace of singles to conclude us.
1056: Here come the West Indies players, Michelin-manned up in hundreds of layers. And, cold on their tails, the England pair of Bopara and Graeme Swann.
1050: Let's take out the Optimismometer, then (memo to self: consider re-branding before releasing to wider market). John Pierce in the TMS inbox sees English "swiping and perishing" before the Windies are dismissed for 150; Sy Fox believes Tim Bresnan "will get a hat-trick in his first over". Sunburn-Stripey Man (see below) says England all out for 325, Windies six wickets down at the close.
1045: Decent forecast for later on, according to the men with the barometers and pine-cones at the BBC Weather centre. Some sun, and only a 10% chance of rain. The man sitting opposite me, fresh from the Nursery Stand yesterday, is sporting the classic seated-all-day sporting tan - pale as a ghost on one side of his face, beetroot on the other. It's like Tommy Lee Jones reprising his turn in Batman Forever.
From BBC Sport's Oliver Brett at Lord's: "The four-man steel band, clad in winter fleeces, have gingerly started up for the morning. Rather curiously, they have selected Stevie Wonder's I Just Called To Say I Love You as their opening number. I guess Guus Hiddink won't be using those words if he's on the blower to a certain Norwegian football official today. Just a smattering of drizzle in the air, but the pitch is uncovered."
1035: So, Day Two at Lord's. Grey overhead, but no reason why we shouldn't be underway on time - England to resume on 289-7, and looking for 400+, according to unbeaten centurion Ravi Bopara. Hats off to the sunny optimism of a man who hasn't been involved with England for very long.
1030: Ah, Thursday at Lord's, and the first day of the Test mat…. hold on, it's day two. And still a Thursday. How did that happen?
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