The conditions favoured the batsmen

West Indies opener Chris Gayle said he expected his side to go onto a massive score in the Antigua Test. Gayle hit a thrilling 69 out of a score of 208-2 after the first day as England’s hopes of a 4-0 whitewash appeared to dwindle fast. Gayle said: “The wicket here is really flat so we are looking at over 400.

“I felt good out there. I started well but got out just before lunch and wasn’t able to carry on. But it’s gone now and I will move on.” England’s seamers struggled to put any pressure on the West Indies upper order, a point not lost on Gayle. He said: “The wicket is slow but I don’t think the bowlers utilised it as well as they could. The conditions favoured the batsmen and it worked in our favour.”

England coach Duncan Fletcher said: “They have prepared a very flat wicket and at some stage Lara was going to get runs. “It is a change from what the bowlers have had before where it has been pretty friendly and now their disciplines have got to come to the fore. “They have got to make sure they get more balls in the right areas to maintain the pressure that is required on these sort of wickets.”