Jonny Bairstow's Century Anchors England Recovery After Dismal Start To 1st Test vs West Indies

Jonny Bairstow's eighth Test hundred anchored England's revival from a woeful start in reaching 268 for six at stumps on the opening day of the first Test in Antigua on Tuesday. Bairstow's composed, unbeaten 109 was the foundation upon which the tourists rallied from 48 for four after captain Joe Root opted to bat first on winning the toss on a pitch which looks set to deteriorate as the match progresses. One of the few England players to emerge with any credit from an abysmal Ashes campaign which ended in Australia just two months earlier, the 32-year-old Yorkshireman displayed the resolve which earned him a century in his previous Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

He faced 216 deliveries, stroking 17 fours in an effort already spanning more than five hours to tilt the balance of the day's play significantly.

Bairstow received invaluable support from Ben Stokes (36) in putting on 67 for the fifth wicket to trigger the resistance.

That was followed by an even more productive association with Ben Foakes (42) as 99 runs were added for the sixth wicket before another all-rounder Chris Woakes (24 not out) ensured the Englishmen capitalised on a tiring Caribbean side with an unbroken seventh-wicket stand already worth 54 runs.

"We've spoken about partnerships and how invaluable they can be, not just up at the top but throughout the order and it's very important for us to continue that effort tomorrow," said a beaming Bairstow at the end of the day.

"I think there's plenty still in it (for the bowlers) so we have to continue to bat well again."

In stark contrast to the opening exchanges when the West Indies seemed capable of doing no wrong, the next two sessions of the day belonged to the visitors as 211 runs were added for