England v West Indies, first Test, day three – live!

It’s funny really, thinking that the conditions today might favour Wood and Archer, when really, we all know that if England are getting this done, it’ll be Jimmy Anderson doing it. He bowled pretty well last evening, and I’d expect him to be on the money from the off this morning.

Public service announcement: this is absolutely banging, and loads of fun. Treat your stirrups, cochleas and eustachians.

Tim de Lisle, who’ll be narrating you through the second half of the day, emails to appraise us of this glorious scene. 98 overs today…

Related reading: here’s an entry on Holder from Joy of Six: champions. If I was writing it now, I’d have even more reasons to effuse.

This is also brilliant. Jason Holder is so great and so impressive – but let’s be very clear that neither of those things are necessary in order to be treated like a human being. It’s not about exceptionalism, it’s about universalism.

Michael Holding and Ebony Rainford-Brent have been amazing these last couple of days – I don’t know where they find the strength – and well done Sky for giving them the scope. If people are willing to talk, we need more of this – much more.

What do we think Stuart de Talleyrand-Broad meant by this? As he later confirmed, he wasn’t criticising the decision to bat first, but was he saying “Can’t believe you didn’t pick me, mucker?”

We’ve all been friends a long time, so I feel comfortable enough to confide that I am absolutely buzzing for this. I absolutely love both of these teams – they way they play, the way the compete, they way they are – and today, after some extremely welcome light teasing and heavy petting, we’re going all the way.

England are in a bit of situation. Ben Stokes should probably have fielded, and should possibly have picked Stuart Broad. By opting to bat, he handed West Indies the best of the bowling conditions, and by omitting Broad, he deprived himself of an all-time expert in taking advantage of them in that crucial session last evening. However, the weather today is better, so it’s not hard to run a line that England will be better with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.

West Indies, meanwhile, know that they can take control of this match today. Given the variable bounce we’re already seeing, the likelihood is that they’ll need a first-innings lead – a decent one – if they’re to win. A look down their teamsheet does not make obvious from where that’s coming, but one big partnership – one substantial knock, even – and they’ll be there. This is going to be great.

Play: 11am BST