West Indies v England: second Test, day three – live!

LIVE – Updated at 13:39

Over-by-over report: Will England put West Indies under pressure on day three in Barbados after posting over 500 in their first innings? Join Tanya Aldred.

And awful news for Mark Wood, who had such an impressive Ashes series. He will miss the rest of the Caribbean tour AND The Indian Premier League with a “right elbow injury.”

No news yet on a call up. Wood will see a specialist back in the UK.

While we wait, more internal turmoil from Yorkshire CCC, as ex-chair Robin Smith puts his oar in and reignites the whole mess.

Sometimes I can barely believe what I have to write: Yorkshire: Robin Smith continues attack on DCMS committee's handling of racism scandal | The Cricketer https://t.co/QuPCyvtUje

Good afternoon from Manchester, where the skies are rivalling Bridgetown in all their hyacinth gorgeousness and there is a waft of jasmine blossom in the spring air.

Yesterday couldn’t have gone much better for England - 150 for Joe Root, 120 for Ben Stokes, back to his belligerent best, and promising debuts for the two new caps: Matt Fisher and Saqib Mahmood. Fisher took a wicket with his second ball, probing the corridoor of uncertainty like a pro. There were no scalps for Saqib Mahmood, but he was miserly and fierce.

Whether England can dig a win from this pancake pitch is down to their perseverance and West Indian fortitude. Ben Stokes, for one, was optimistic:

“I don’t want to eat my words here but I can’t see [the pitch] getting any better. I think the spinner is in the game and the seamers felt in the game the whole way, so it’ll be an exciting day tomorrow.”

Play starts at 2pm GMT, I’ll be back to read the tea leaves at 1.30pm.

Ali’s super report on Thursday’s business:

Related: Ben Stokes’