West Indies v England news: Bairstow ton steers England out of trouble in Antigua

Jonny Bairstow's century led England out of trouble on day one of the first Test against the West Indies.

The day had begun in familiar fashion for the tourists as they slipped to 48 for four having won the toss and chosen to bat.

But Bairstow, first alongside Ben Stokes (36) and later with Ben Foakes (42) and Chris Woakes (24 not out), steered England to 268 for six at the close in Antigua.

"I'm delighted, absolutely delighted to start the series like that," said Bairstow.

"I'm so pleased, I'm very passionate about playing for England and very passionate about playing Test cricket. Obviously I didn't start in the Ashes but I got my opportunity and looked to take it.

"It's been a good build-up here too and to start this way this series is fantastic. Hopefully we kick on and it's the start of a few this year."

Having rung the changes both on and off the field following their disastrous Ashes tour earlier this winter, England's priority going into the game would have been to put runs on the board.

The batters had failed miserably time and again Down Under but an old pattern soon returned.

Debutant Alex Lees was first to go, dismissed lbw by Kemar Roach for only four in the third over.

Fellow opener Zak Crawley was gone just eight balls later, falling to an excellent diving catch behind the wicket by Josh Da Silva after he had given Jayden Seales delivery an inside edge.

Skipper Joe Root, moved up the order to number three due to the changes in the England line-up, has often bailed England out in recent times but on this occasion he made only 13 before he was clean bowled by Kemar Roach.

Root offered no shot to one that nipped back and clipped the top of his off stump.

Dan Lawrence was next to go, out for 20 after edging Jason Holder to second slip and lunch would have been uncomfortable for the tourists on 57 for four.

Boundaries began to flow more freely after the interval as Bairstow and Stokes opened up but, having made 36, the latter tried one stroke too many and was bowled off his inside edge by Seales.

That brought Foakes to the crease and both he and Bairstow, who would rightly survive a DRS review on 59, looked assured as they built a strong partnership.

They accelerated the scoring rate after the tea interval before Foakes fell, trapped lbw by Holder with the partnership just one run shy of three figures.

Woakes' arrival at the crease only served to push Bairstow on to greater things though. He smashed seven boundaries in just 10 balls to move into the 90s and he brought up his ton when sweeping spinner Kraigg Brathwaite behind square.

Bairstow had reached 109 by stumps with Woakes having contributed a useful 24.

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