Old-firm centurions Alastair Cook and Joe Root provided England’s bankable constants in an ever-changing world at Edgbaston.
Day one of this country’s inaugural floodlit Test confirmed a raft of popular predictions about a pink ball which proved hard to spot for some broadcast viewers but did so little off a flat surface that Cook (153 not out) and Root (136) had barely any discernible trouble throughout their third-wicket stand of 248.
Despite the early loss of debutant opener Mark Stoneman and novice Test number three Tom Westley, in this first match of three against West Indies, England therefore took control on the way to 348 for three at stumps after Root chose to bat on a sunny afternoon.
The captain’s 139-ball century, his 13th in Tests, and all-time national record runscorer Cook’s 31st from 182 deliveries ruled through 66 wicketless overs.
The Windies confounded expectations by initially spurning the second new ball and instead deploying spin under lights in a bemusing passage of play which also saw their captain Jason Holder retreat mid-over with a temporarily stiff neck.
A sell-out crowd, half of whom were new to Test cricket according to Warwickshire’s consumer data and presumed attracted by the novelty of the occasion, lapped up a spectacle which became ever more one-sided as England’s broad bats dominated.
Cook led the way at this venue where he hit a career-best 294 six years ago, while Root bagged a new national landmark of his own by posting at least 50 in a record 11th successive match as the pink ball moved in unerring straight lines for a visiting attack able to pose precious few problems.
England’s increasing prosperity was far removed, however, from an uncertain start which saw two more Ashes contenders out of this particular equation within eight overs.
Stoneman’s maiden international innings was eventful, as well as brief.
He was on strike for the second delivery of the match, after Cook pushed the first with the pink ball to cover for a single off Kemar Roach.
The first Stoneman then received from Roach was the widest of wides, intercepted only by second slip.
From only the second legitimate ball he faced, Stoneman timed a cover-drive for four – and then counted another boundary in the opening over with a confident clip off his legs.
His fun was interrupted, however, when Roach produced an outstanding delivery in his second over – one that offered to swing back into the left-hander at pace but then held its line to scrape the pad and take the off-bail.