England’s Root and Lawrence take centre stage against West Indies

At the ground where the names of the great Barbados and West Indies cricketers adorn the stands Joe Root further burnished his claim to be an English equivalent, finessing his 25th Test century and with it his most enjoyable day of the winter.

As the two sides strolled off the field at the close of day one of this second Test, the visitors – and the hordes of travelling supporters who have taken over Kensington Oval – should have been by far the happier. Root was unbeaten on 119 from 246 balls and England were well set on 244 for three.

But where West Indies might have been tired and chuntering after a day of self-inflicted wounds, a late bonus had instead come their way, Jason Holder claiming the wicket of Dan Lawrence for 91 and breaking a third-wicket stand of 164 that was threatening an England record at this ground.

Lawrence was crestfallen, slumping to the ground in disbelief after drilling the ball straight to Kraigg Brathwaite in the covers; the Essex right-hander is yet to taste three-figures in Test cricket and a chance to experience this sensation early on the second day had slipped away with one errant drive.

It also represented a reprieve unpunished by Lawrence, who seven overs earlier had been dropped on 72 when he flashed hard at a wide one from Jayden Seales only for Alzarri Joseph – a curious deployment at slip – to grass the ball. Having played so well up to this point, it was a lesson to be learned.

Instead, Root will walk out with Ben Stokes on the second day after anchoring the first in fine style and, with a second century in the space of a week, further vindicating his positive move up to No 3 despite the statistics saying otherwise.

There were a couple of lives along the way, it must be said. West