There is a crowd of about 12 out there. One of whom is blowing a conch, as you'd expect. Phil Jaques to open and here comes Powell

10.15am OK chaps, we're nearly ready. Thanks for hanging around - and bear with us. We'll have play for you shortly, within five minutes or so. Ish...

Sarwan says Gayle's working very hard in getting back to full fitness, and is nearly there ... just not quite near enough, clearly. Big blow to West Indies - Gayle was odds-on to play here. Marshall is in for Parchment. Taylor in for Jaggernauth.

10.05am Chris Gayle is not playing - Ramnaresh Sarwan will captain again. "Not a lot of grass on it," Ponting says, who won the toss and chose to bat, "and you can be sure it'll lose a lot of pace and bounce later in the game." Michael Clarke, back from compassionate leave, is in for Brad Hodge.

10.00am Ricky Ponting has won the toss and will have a bat - but not just yet: it's been drizzling and the outfield's too wet to start on time. What a nuisance. Nevermind - plenty on the site to keep you informed and entertained and, if you're very bored, drop us a line.

9.55am Good morning and a very warm welcome to you all. My name's Will Luke and, joined by Brydon Coverdale, will be guiding you through this second Test from Antigua - the first at the new Sir Viv Richards stadium. It's all very exciting indeed, and we'll have team news as soon as we can. Such matters tend to be a little slow coming from the Caribbean, but bear with us.

0.1

Powell to Jaques, no run, nudged off his hip straight to Marshall at short-leg

0.2

Powell to Jaques, no run, a leg-stump line once more, and Jaques is back and tucking this to Marshall at short-leg

0.3

Powell to Jaques, no run, much better delivery, pitching it well up to the left-hander who squeezes it out to point

0.4

Powell to Jaques, no run, back on the leg-stump line - the wrong line - but this time Jaques can't connect with it, the ball bobbling off his pad

0.5

Powell to Jaques, FOUR, bang! Wide of the off stump, Jaques clumps it square of the wicket for four. Superb timing and a gimme from Powell

0.6

Powell to Jaques, no run, a bouncer which barely gets up above head height, and Jaques is down on his haunches here while ducking out of the way. The ball barely carried through to the keeper, too - not a good sign really

Here's Edwards from the Media Centre end. And in he comes - but where's the ball? Edwards is down and out. He sprinted in and lost his footing, sliding into his delivery stride with his right ankle giving way. Ouch - that looks horrible. This isn't looking too good, and the physio's giving him some treatment while Edwards tentatively puts weight on the ankle. The good thing for him is Edwards didn't put all his weight on it - it was a "soft" slide, if that makes sense, and he's going to continue...albeit a bit tentatively. So here he comes for a second attempt...

1.1

Edwards to Katich, no run, and he starts with a good one which bends a touch back into the left-hander

1.2

Edwards to Katich, 3 runs, flicked through midwicket with neat timing. A good ball swinging into Katich's pads and he timed that sweetly

Poor length from Edwards and comfortably capitalised on by Katich

1.3

Edwards to Jaques, no run, ah, now that's the line to Katich: probing outside his off stump, and again Edwards gets a touch of movement back into the left-hander

1.4

Edwards to Jaques, 3 runs, clipped off his legs through midwicket - albeit aerially

1.5

Edwards to Katich, no run, swinging into off stump and he punches it out to cover

1.6

Edwards to Katich, 2 runs, ooh well played by Katich though he was miles back in his crease. Excellent timing (on a damn good pitch) with a punch back past the bowler

2.1

Powell to Jaques, no run, a waste. Too wide of the off stump and ignored

Edwards is trotting off the field to check on that injured ankle

2.2

Powell to Jaques, no run, again far too wide. Again left alone, and (again) the ball hardly carries through to the keeper

2.3

Powell to Jaques, no run, much better from Powell, swinging into his off stump and it's firmly blocked out

2.4

Powell to Jaques, no run, short of a length, allowing him onto the back foot and he prods it off the back foot

2.5

Powell to Jaques, no run, on the off stump and defended out to cover

2.6

Powell to Jaques, no run, on middle-and-leg, it's defended to leg

Edwards is back on the park. And into bowl with three slips

3.1

Edwards to Katich, no run, wide of the off stump and left alone. Not a bad line, if a little too wide

3.2

Edwards to Katich, no run, better length, punched off the back foot to mid-off

3.3

Edwards to Katich, no run, solid-looking punch, riding the bounce, out to point...but straight to the fielder

Easy-paced pitch. It's an awful toss to lose...

3.4

Edwards to Katich, 2 runs, an ugly shot here. Onto the front foot and he clumpily drives this back past the bowler, his bat twisting in his hands as though he was trying to initially work it through midwicket

3.5

Edwards to Katich, 2 runs, firmly defended to Taylor at mid-off. "Wait!" is the call, but Taylor lets it through! Oh dear oh dear - lazy stuff there. He just didn't get down quick enough

3.6

Edwards to Katich, no run, well wide of the off stump and left alone

4.1

Powell to Jaques, no run, beaten! The first good ball of the day, really, which angles across Jaques who fishes and misses. Again the ball barely carries to Ramdin

4.2

Powell to Jaques, 1 run, a touch fuller this time and he pushed this out to mid-off

4.3

Powell to Katich, no run, wide, wide, wide of the off stump. No need to play those

4.4

Powell to Katich, no run, he's miles back in his crease here - but the pitch is so true and placid that he can play everything off length alone. Comfortably blocked off the back foot

4.5

Powell to Katich, no run, that's much better - in the channel outside the off stump and left alone

4.6

Powell to Katich, no run, good leave to a very good ball, just cutting back a touch on the left-hander who let it go on length

5.1

Edwards to Jaques, no run, a goodish length but still wide enough to be left alone

Tiffin's not happy with Edwards running onto the pitch here

5.2

Edwards to Jaques, no run, firmly blocked on the front foot

5.3

Edwards to Jaques, no run, blocked off the back foot

And again, Tiffin's poking around with his front foot, scratching at the danger area with a beady eye. And the batsman's not too happy either

5.4

Edwards to Jaques, no run, well wide, left alone

5.5

Edwards to Jaques, no run, well wide, left alone

5.6

Edwards to Jaques, no run, solidly driven on the front foot - powerfully struck in fact, but straight to mid-off

Not a lot for the West Indies bowlers this morning. Hardly a jot of movement, though at least they've not let Australia get away from them too quickly

6.1

Powell to Katich, no run, cuts back on Katich who defends it awkwardly (as he often does) back to the bowler, the bat twisting in his hands

Short mid-off comes in

6.2

Powell to Katich, no run, and a good length delivery is defended straight to that man at short mid-off

6.3

Powell to Katich, 1 run, stands tall and bunts this to leg - neat timing but mid-on skips around to field and prevents more than one run being taken

6.4

Powell to Jaques, no run, comes forward onto the front foot and defends it very solidly indeed. He's brawling

6.5

Powell to Jaques, no run, defensively punched back to the bowler off the back foot. Decent-length delivery

6.6

Powell to Jaques, no run, Powell digs this one in a touch shorter, and Jaques is back and cutting ... but straight to point

7.1

Edwards to Katich, 2 runs, flicked off his pads down to fine leg. Poor line

7.2

Edwards to Katich, no run, punched back to the bowler on the back foot

Oh dear. The groundsmen are cladding themselves in yellow rain jackets - it won't be too long 'til it pounds down, I fear.

7.3

Edwards to Katich, no run, ooh a swing and a miss! Well wide of the off stump - he really shouldn't be bothering with those - and he missed it by a few inches

7.4

Edwards to Katich, no run, tighter line this time and he drives it back to the bowler

7.5

Edwards to Katich, no run, no no - too wide. Left alone

7.6

Edwards to Katich, FOUR, that'll be four. He has timed the backside off that - beautiful cover drive for four. Nothing more than a push

8.1

Powell to Jaques, no run, good ball on off stump - just cutting back in a touch. Excellent delivery - six of those would do very nicely for West Indies

8.2

Powell to Jaques, no run, too wide - looking for swing, but there is none

8.3

Powell to Jaques, no run, touch shorter and left alone outside off

8.4

Powell to Jaques, 1 run, excellent running, Jaques dropping this out to cover and jogging a single

With regard to the weather, have a gander at the forecast. It's not pretty.

8.5

Powell to Katich, no run, wide. Ignored

8.6

Powell to Katich, no run, clumped to short mid-off

9.1

Edwards to Jaques, FOUR, good, solid pull through midwicket. Not absolutely timing it, but good enough

There are precisely zero demons in this pitch. It's flat and lifeless

9.2

Edwards to Jaques, no run, well wide of the off stump

Time for a stint a round the wicket? Will says, thinking he's the captain. I'll get back to the keyboard

9.3

Edwards to Jaques, no run, ignored outside off

"Hey folks- enjoying the commentary- was just wondering whether people are as bewildered as I am that the Windies aren't playing a spinner on what looks like a far less pace friendly wicket than the Sabina Park wicket?" asks Scott and about three hundred others. The decision has been made now so ... they just have to make the most of what they've got. A fit Taylor is always likely to be picked, too...

9.4

Edwards to Jaques, no run, off the toe of the bat as he tries to drive through the covers

9.5

Edwards to Jaques, no run, defended on the back foot

9.6

Edwards to Jaques, no run, that's a very good delivery on off stump but firmly blocked out

Right. Here's Powell once more

10.1

Powell to Katich, no run, a little too wide and left alone

10.2

Powell to Katich, no run, wider of the crease this time, and he angles it across the left hander who again refuses to play

10.3

Powell to Katich, no run, "waiting" is the call from Katich who stands tall to this good-length delivery just outside his off stump

10.4

Powell to Katich, no run, wide, left alone

10.5

Powell to Katich, no run, well wide of the off stump - this is clearly a tactic from Powell, albeit a dull one for the rest of us to follow

10.6

Powell to Katich, no run, bang - he's cut that firmly but Xavier Marshall dives to his left and pulls off a fine save

And that, ladies and gents, is drinks after the first hour of the second Test. Go and boil yourself a brew, or something stronger if it's a passable time of the day. Talking of drinks, it's Chris Gayle carrying them for West Indies. How the mighty...etc. A colleague brings out what looks like a plate of fresh mango and fruit, too. Super effort, that - marvellous display by all. Right then, Taylor into the attack.

11.1

Taylor to Jaques, no run, starts with one a little wide of the off stump, and it cuts away further off the seam

Big fan of Taylor, me. I probably shouldn't pin my allegiances to the mast like that, but I have.

11.2

Taylor to Jaques, no run, a good line and length, firmly defended on the back foot

We haven't seen either Jaques or Katich get onto the front foot much this morning - and when they have, it's usually gone for runs

11.3

Taylor to Jaques, 2 runs, and there we go. Onto the front foot to a wider ball, clumped through cover. Marshall misfields

11.4

Taylor to Jaques, no run, on his legs, punched to square leg

11.5

Taylor to Jaques, no run, wide and left alone

11.6

Taylor to Jaques, no run, boshed to cover who threatens to the throw down the stumps

12.1

Powell to Katich, no run, good grief! No bounce whatsoever there. Wide of the off stump - fortunately so for Katich - and the batsman tried to cut but missed it comfortably. An audible "urghhh" or perhaps a "errrrr" by the batsman as that passed by

Powell's coming around the wicket. Good move, this

Two slips in place and a short mid-on

12.2

Powell to Katich, no run, Katich is forced forward to one angling into his off stump. Good line, firmly defended

12.3

Powell to Katich, 3 runs, aerially flicked off his pads, timing it well, and they pick up three

12.4

Powell to Jaques, 2 runs, driven down the ground, though without power

12.5

Powell to Jaques, no run, wide of the off stump

12.6

Powell to Jaques, no run, angling into the left-hander who's solid in defence and comes forward to block it out

13.1

Taylor to Katich, no run, wide of the off stump and angling further away from the left-hander. Not the right line at all

13.2

Taylor to Katich, no run, too wide. Left alone once more

13.3

Taylor to Katich, no run, wide once more. Left alone once more

13.4

Taylor to Katich, no run, wide of the off stump

13.5

Taylor to Katich, no run, too wide, left alone

13.6

Taylor to Katich, no run, better delivery this time, attacking the stumps and forcing the defensive

Here's Bravo

14.1

Bravo to Jaques, no run, good, full length swinging into the batsman who chips it back to the batsman

14.2

Bravo to Jaques, no run, angled out to cover

14.3

Bravo to Jaques, OUT, got him! A full delivery swinging back into the left hander who's trapped in the crease while trying to work this to leg, and up goes the finger!

PA Jaques lbw b Bravo 17 (71m 47b 2x4 0x6) SR: 36.17

Was there an inside edge there? Do my ears deceive me? Either way - and my ears are particularly deceptive little oiks - he's outta here. Here's Ponting, averaging a rubbish 58.81

14.4

Bravo to Ponting, no run, a good line and length to the right hander who nudges it to leg

14.5

Bravo to Ponting, no run, a touch of swing bending away from Ponting, but he's calmly behind it and defends solidly

Ponting needs 61 for 10,000 Test runs. Yowzers.

14.6

Bravo to Ponting, 1 run, nudged out into the covers - and poor fielding from Marshall allows Ponting to get off the mark

15.1

Taylor to Ponting, 1 leg bye, down the leg side, nobbling off his pads

15.2

Taylor to Katich, no run, nudged out to cover

15.3

Taylor to Katich, no run, well wide of the off stump and ignored

15.4

Taylor to Katich, no run, another wide teaser - that's not a euphemism for anything, incidentally - and left alone

15.5

Taylor to Katich, no run, full, swinging away from the left hander who drives it to mid-off

15.6

Taylor to Katich, no run, well wide of the off stump

16.1

Bravo to Ponting, no run, nice and full, Ponting comes forward and defends it solidly and confidently

16.2

Bravo to Ponting, no run, excellent fielding by Sarwan, I think, at short mid-on. Easily identifiable, Sarwan, as he has a cloth or hanky sticking out of his trousers...like Gus Fraser used to

16.3

Bravo to Ponting, no run, fiercely clumped out to cover, but another good save - I'm not sure who it was, sorry - prevents the single

16.4

Bravo to Ponting, no run, tucked to leg - and that hurried him a bit before he turned his wrists and nudged it defensively to leg

16.5

Bravo to Ponting, no run, Ponting pushes this out to cover

16.6

Bravo to Ponting, 3 runs, flicked off his pads

17.1

Taylor to Ponting, no run, defended off the back foot

Kym asks which batsmen have reached 10,000 Test runs. This ugly bunch, that's who.

17.2

Taylor to Ponting, 2 runs, very full but brilliantly timed by Ponting to Edwards at mid-on, who dives like Bambi - all arms, legs and other limbs flaying around there, the ball hammering into his knee. He's not having much luck poor old Fidel

17.3

Taylor to Ponting, no run, solidly defended

17.4

Taylor to Ponting, 1 run, swinging down the leg side and Ponting gets some bat on it

17.5

Taylor to Katich, no run, driven with a flourish to mid-off

17.6

Taylor to Katich, no run, wide. Ignored. Next

18.1

Bravo to Ponting, FOUR, shot! That is a stunning drive, angling it down wide of third man

18.2

Bravo to Ponting, no run, touch too wide this time

18.3

Bravo to Ponting, no run, good ball, hurrying Ponting who whips to leg. Touch of movement away from him there

Bravo's got more movement than anyone today

18.4

Bravo to Ponting, no run, good line and length. Ponting won't be lured, however, and leaves it alone

18.5

Bravo to Ponting, 3 runs, that's a stray. Down the leg side and Ramdin gives chase, but the outfield is so slow he's able to haul it back with ease

Remarkably slow, in fact. It was pretty damp out there this morning though - and more rain is forecast, in case you're just joining us

"If Ponting makes it today he'll be the only one on the 10,000 list that hasn't played 200 innings," notes Glenn.

18.6

Bravo to Katich, no run, left alone outside off

19.1

Taylor to Ponting, no run, swinging away from Ponting but he plays it very comfortably, shuffling across and pushing forward

19.2

Taylor to Ponting, 2 runs, class from Ponting, playing it late down to third man

19.3

Taylor to Ponting, no run, driven out to mid-off

19.4

Taylor to Ponting, no run, driven out to mid-off

19.5

Taylor to Ponting, 1 run, thick inside edge! He played it very late, though, which probably saved him. Fine bowling, finding one to move back on Ponting

19.6

Taylor to Katich, no run, good line and length. Katich is firmly behind it

20.1

Bravo to Ponting, 3 runs, flicked through midwicket

Around the wicket

20.2

Bravo to Katich, no run, decent length but wide enough to be left alone

20.3

Bravo to Katich, no run, back and across, nudges this to leg

20.4

Bravo to Katich, 1 run, driven to mid-off and they scamper through for a single

20.5

Bravo to Ponting, no run, short of a length. Ponting remains on the back foot and nudges to leg

20.6

Bravo to Ponting, no run, this cuts away from the right hander who leaves it alone

Here's DJ Sammy

We've just spotted Cricinfo's finest, Travis Basevi, in the pool at the ground. He has a yellow t-shirt on and looks pleased with himself...and why wouldn't he? Well done that coding winner

21.1

Sammy to Katich, no run, left alone outside off

21.2

Sammy to Katich, no run, onto the back foot and defends this solidly

21.3

Sammy to Katich, no run, wide of the off stump and left alone

21.4

Sammy to Katich, no run, back of a length, Katich rocks back and defends solidly

Four minutes until lunch

21.5

Sammy to Katich, no run, punched out to cover

21.6

Sammy to Katich, FOUR, cut hard past point for four more. Poor delivery - far too short and wide

Last over before lunch, and Bravo to bowl it

22.1

Bravo to Ponting, FOUR, crack! Short, wide and dispatched with the minimum of fuss from Ponting, clattering it off the back foot. Timed that nicely

22.2

Bravo to Ponting, FOUR, down the leg side and Ponting picks up another four with a neat tickle down to fine leg. This is poor stuff from Bravo - and from Sarwan too, who's not got a fine-leg. Inexplicable

22.3

Bravo to Ponting, no run, again down the leg side but Ponting falls over here as he tries to turn this to the same fine leg region. Ramdin collects

22.4

Bravo to Ponting, no run, left alone this time

22.5

Bravo to Ponting, no run, Ponting comes forward and blocks it out firmly

Incidentally, it's May 30 today - George Headley's birthday.

Around the wicket from Bravo

22.6

Bravo to Ponting, no run, defended solidly

So that's lunch on the first day, a good one for Australia with 70 on the board. Not nearly enough in the pitch for the bowlers, and Ponting looks in sublime touch. Join us in about 40 minutes for the resumption

Welcome back after lunch, Brydon Coverdale with you for the first part of this session, and it'll be Edwards to start

23.1

Edwards to Katich, 2 runs, a positive start from Katich, who works a straight one off his pads through midwicket for two

23.2

Edwards to Katich, no run, he tries to clip another off his pads but only finds the man at square leg

23.3

Edwards to Katich, no run, outside off stump and Katich defends back down the pitch

23.4

Edwards to Katich, no run, and that hasn't missed leg stump by all that much ... Katich walked way across to the off side and tried for a leg glance, didn't connect, and that would have been an embarrassing way to go

23.5

Edwards to Katich, no run, left alone outside off stump

23.6

Edwards to Katich, no run, awful ball to finish the over, Edwards sprays it way outside off stump and Katich couldn't have reached it if he tried, which he didn't. Not sure why that wasn't called a wide

There's so few people at this game, a really disappointing crowd. I've seen more fans at a Pura Cup match, and believe me that is saying something

24.1

Bravo to Ponting, 1 no ball, outside off stump, swinging away, but he'll have to bowl it again

24.1

Bravo to Ponting, no run, another one left alone outside off

24.2

Bravo to Ponting, no run, on the pads and Ponting clips it to the man at midwicket

24.3

Bravo to Ponting, no run, only the merest hint of swing for Bravo, who puts it wide of off and Ponting lets it go

24.4

Bravo to Ponting, no run, straighter, just outside off and Ponting defends with the straightest of straight bats

24.5

Bravo to Ponting, no run, pushed through well outside off again, no reason for Ponting to play at that

24.6

Bravo to Ponting, no run, a bit more shape this time, and a touch straighter, but Ponting can still leave it safely alone

25.1

Edwards to Katich, no run, Katich pushes this one defensively to mid off and there's no run

25.2

Edwards to Katich, no run, driven well to cover but straight to Marshall, who snaps it up sharply

25.3

Edwards to Katich, no run, little bit of shape in to Katich, not much though, and it's bunted back down the pitch

25.4

Edwards to Katich, no run, defended again, out into the off side

25.5

Edwards to Katich, no run, another one pushed way, way across the left-hander and no chance Katich could play a decent shot at that, but no wide called

25.6

Edwards to Katich, no run, straight drive rattles the stumps at the bowler's end, good shot besides that

26.1

Bravo to Ponting, no run, a bit of an lbw shout from Bravo, Ponting lunged forward and outside off, shouldered arms and it struck him outside the line and quite high. Mark Benson is not interested, and it's a good call

26.2

Bravo to Ponting, 2 runs, and there's an overthrow, Ponting nudged it to mid on, took off quickly and Sarwan's throw misses the stumps - Ponting was in regardless - and no backing up means an extra run

26.3

Bravo to Ponting, no run, defended out into the off side

26.4

Bravo to Ponting, no run, outside off stump, no movement and Ponting leaves it alone

26.5

Bravo to Ponting, no run, another lunge forward by Ponting, bat and pad tightly together, drops it to the off side and thinks about a quick single but there isn't one there

26.6

Bravo to Ponting, no run, another solid defensive push, to cover this time

With a five-man pace attack the over rate here is already pretty slow, it's only going to get worse as the day wears on

27.1

Edwards to Katich, no run, outside off stump and nudged to mid off

27.2

Edwards to Katich, no run, pushed across Katich, who leaves it alone

27.3

Edwards to Katich, no run, another one angled across Katich, who lets it pass him by

27.4

Edwards to Katich, no run, pushed across again and there's no shot offered

27.5

Edwards to Katich, no run, more of the same from Edwards, who isn't getting and shape on the ball, and Katich decides not to use his bat again

27.6

Edwards to Katich, no run, defended away this time, Katich still watchful

28.1

Bravo to Ponting, 1 run, Ponting pushes this one wide of cover and they get a single

28.2

Bravo to Katich, no run, Katich defends to cover

28.3

Bravo to Katich, no run, stifled cries from West Indies there as Katich gets a very thick inside edge onto his pad

Bravo is around the wicket to Katich, incidentally

28.4

Bravo to Katich, no run, outside off stump and left alone by Katich

28.5

Bravo to Katich, FOUR, strayed onto the pads and the angle from around the wicket lets Katich flick it comfortably through square leg for a boundary

28.6

Bravo to Katich, no run, driven to mid off and there's no run

Katich is really taking his time here, which is no bad thing for an opener, especially considering he got a bit carried away at Sabina Park and played too aggressively too early. It's hard to believe he scored 184 in a session - yes, you read that right - for New South Wales against Queensland a few months ago

29.1

Edwards to Ponting, no run, straight ball, Ponting flicks it to midwicket and can't find the gap

29.2

Edwards to Ponting, no run, pushed wide of off stump and left alone by Ponting

29.3

Edwards to Ponting, no run, Edwards probes outside off and Ponting defends it solidly

29.4

Edwards to Ponting, no run, well wide of off again, Ponting is tempted to try and drive this but he doesn't get onto it and the ball rolls out to cover

29.5

Edwards to Ponting, no run, onto leg stump and nudged to square leg

29.6

Edwards to Ponting, 2 runs, excellent shot from Ponting, who gets onto another wide one and drives it forward of point. Probably deserved a boundary there, but the outfield is very slow and it was easy to pull that ball up

30.1

Sammy to Katich, no run, on the stumps and Katich clips it to midwicket

30.2

Sammy to Katich, 1 run, a good solid drive wide of the short mid off, and knocked down by the regular mid off, Sarwan, who stops what might have been three or four

30.3

Sammy to Ponting, no run, on the stumps and Ponting gets in behind it to defend

30.4

Sammy to Ponting, no run, wide outside off and left alone

30.5

Sammy to Ponting, no run, defended towards cover as Ponting watches Sammy carefully in his second over

30.6

Sammy to Ponting, no run, another one pushed away defensively

31.1

Edwards to Katich, no run, Edwards finds his line just outside off, but Katich is good enough to push it away solidly

31.2

Edwards to Katich, no run, across the left-hander a fraction more, left alone, and it gets a bit extra bounce through to Ramdin

31.3

Edwards to Katich, no run, another one left alone by Katich outside off

31.4

Edwards to Katich, no run, on the stumps this time and Katich defends

31.5

Edwards to Katich, 2 runs, a well-controlled straight drive from Katich, who didn't try to over-hit that ball, it just missed the stumps and Sarwan running across from mid on was a bit sloppy in letting it through

31.6

Edwards to Katich, no run, outside off and defended to cover

32.1

Sammy to Ponting, no run, outside off stump and Ponting lets it go

32.2

Sammy to Ponting, no run, solid defence from Ponting, who doesn't look at all troubled by Sammy

32.3

Sammy to Ponting, 1 run, pushed square by Ponting, who gets an easy single

32.4

Sammy to Katich, no run, defended solidly to cover

32.5

Sammy to Katich, 1 run, on the pads and Katich glances it away comfortably

32.6

Sammy to Ponting, 2 runs, good shot from Ponting, a fuller pitched ball from Sammy and it's punched through midwicket for an easy two

Australia looking solid here, and here's Will Luke to take you through to tea

Hello everyone. Right, here's Edwards

33.1

Edwards to Katich, no run, ooh and that's a ripper from Edwards - the first to really have spat off a length. Nasty delivery but Katich played it well in the end, with late and soft hands

Remember that advert for fairy liquid? Well I bet Katich's mum used it when he was a nipper. "Mild green....fairy liquid"

33.2

Edwards to Katich, 2 runs, ah but he strays onto his legs this time and Katich works him through midwicket with industrious ease

33.3

Edwards to Katich, 1 run, firmly defended past the bowler, past Ponting and Taylor dives around from mid-off to cut it off

33.4

Edwards to Ponting, no run, swinging away from Ponting who comes confidently, bullishly forward to defend

33.5

Edwards to Ponting, no run, short, wild and quite easily evaded by Ponting

33.6

Edwards to Ponting, no run, back of a length and Ponting's solid in defence

34.1

Sammy to Katich, no run, nicely driven by Katich - good piece of timing, but the placement wasn't there

34.2

Sammy to Katich, no run, good, tight line outside off which Katich refuses to play at. Nice line from Sammy

34.3

Sammy to Katich, FOUR, full toss and bang - Katich has laced that, almost killing Ponting in the process. Straight back down the ground for four

34.4

Sammy to Katich, no run, good comeback from Sammy, forcing Katich onto the back foot who defends

34.5

Sammy to Katich, no run, cautiously defended out to cover

34.6

Sammy to Katich, no run, guided to cover off the back foot

35.1

Powell to Ponting, 1 run, awful fielding from Chanderpaul. Firmly driven by Ponting and Chanderpaul just never got down to stop it at cover

Their fielding really has slipped since the first slip, though there's one theory that the new drainage system here at the ground isn't quite bedded beneath the surface of the grass enough, causing the ball to bobble up

35.2

Powell to Katich, no run, solidly blocked out

35.3

Powell to Katich, no run, full, straight and defended

35.4

Powell to Katich, FOUR, beautifully, authoritatively played by Katich, driving it sweetly back down the ground. Ponting dances out of the way and it's four more for Katich who's approaching a very solid fifty

35.5

Powell to Katich, no run, ignored outside off

35.6

Powell to Katich, no run, no need to play at this wider delivery, leaving it well alone

36.1

Sammy to Ponting, no run, dropped him - Devon Smith at first slip. Ponting drawn into a drive and, actually, replays show that fell just short. But only just

36.2

Sammy to Ponting, 1 run, pushed out to cover

36.3

Sammy to Katich, 2 leg byes, swinging down the leg side and half a shout from the bowler, but it was considerably leg-sideish. Certainly getting a touch more movement now

36.4

Sammy to Katich, 1 run, again on the leg side, and Katich needs no further invitation, pushing this for a quick single

36.5

Sammy to Ponting, no run, driven out to cover

36.6

Sammy to Ponting, no run, left alone

Drinks out in the middle. While we're waiting, Michelle McDonald interviewed Chris Gayle for Caribbeancricket.com - have a read.

37.1

Powell to Katich, no run, angling into the left hander who confidently defends off the back foot

37.2

Powell to Katich, no run, a short-arm bunt from Katich - again excellently timed - back past the bowler

37.3

Powell to Katich, no run, good line and length, forcing Katich to defend

37.4

Powell to Katich, no run, on his legs, Katich flicks this to leg and midwicket makes a fine stop to his right. Chanderpaul, that was, making up for his earlier misdemeanour

37.5

Powell to Katich, no run, short of a length, Katich ducks

37.6

Powell to Katich, no run, well wide of the off stump, left alone. And Powell gives Katich a few words of advice...

38.1

Sammy to Ponting, no run, good line, just outside off, but Ponting's solidly behind it

38.2

Sammy to Ponting, 1 run, squeezed past backward point for a single

38.3

Sammy to Katich, no run, defended solidly

38.4

Sammy to Katich, no run, wide of the off stump and left alone

38.5

Sammy to Katich, no run, bending back into Katich's off stump who comes forward, defends, and instructs Ponting to "wait!"

38.6

Sammy to Katich, no run, sends this one wider and it's comfortably left alone

39.1

Powell to Ponting, no run, on the back foot, riding the bounce and plays this crisply into the covers. He does look in storming form, Ponting, even at this relatively early stage

39.2

Powell to Ponting, no run, back of a length, Ponting stands tall to defend

39.3

Powell to Ponting, no run, again a bit too short, and again Ponting punches this off the back foot

39.4

Powell to Ponting, FOUR, emphatically pulled for four. A poor bouncer angling into Ponting, and he just helped it around the corner really. All too easy. With the exception of Edwards' bouncer a couple of overs ago, short bowling is not suited to this pitch

18 more needed by Punter to reach 10,000 runs

39.5

Powell to Ponting, no run, firmly forward, defending

The curiously named Miten from Canada has this to say. "Ponting is the Kobe Bryant of Cricket - if you are on his team you think he's God but if you play against him, you are filled with awe and frustration." Yes. Quite.

39.6

Powell to Ponting, no run, another bumper but Ponting mistimes his pull. That almost came off the pitch too slowly for him, and it wobbles through to Ramdin

40.1

Sammy to Katich, no run, angling into the left hander who's solid in defence

40.2

Sammy to Katich, no run, this cuts back a touch on Katich, but he goes back to block it out

40.3

Sammy to Katich, 1 run, fantastic shot for one! He walked into the most thumping of cover-drives, but found a fielder

Lovely, resounding crack of the bat from Katich

So where are you reading from? Anywhere interesting or exotic? Tell us your tales.

40.4

Sammy to Ponting, no run, left alone outside off. It was well wide

Short mid-off is in place. Very, very short in fact...

40.5

Sammy to Ponting, no run, good line and length, almost turning Ponting around, but his hands are so fast that he just flicks it to leg

40.6

Sammy to Ponting, no run, ooh he played this one on the walk did Ponting, and almost chipped it back to the bowler

41.1

Powell to Katich, no run, blocked out on the front foot

41.2

Powell to Katich, 2 runs, ah, he's timed this well - or has he? On his legs and he picked it up, slightly aerially, but the stodgy outfield prevents him getting four

41.3

Powell to Katich, FOUR, the bouncer and Katich hooks, gloving it behind the keeper for four! Not the most convincing of strokes - his first false one, in fact, and there's his fifty

First fifty since the 2005 Ashes, which seems an age away. Well - I suppose it is now

41.4

Powell to Katich, 1 run, on the back foot, firmly punched out to cover and excellent running gives him one

41.5

Powell to Ponting, 1 run, unlike Katich, Ponting's firmly forward onto the front foot. A big stride - it really is marked, the difference between the two. Fascinating to watch

41.6

Powell to Katich, no run, and he leaves this one and it hammers into his hip

42.1

Sammy to Ponting, 1 run, full and straight, flicked to leg

42.2

Sammy to Katich, 3 runs, on his legs, Katich works this off his hip and fine leg does very well to save runs there. Powell, I think it is, running athletically around to his right

42.3

Sammy to Ponting, no run, Ponting goes for a cute cut, but it's too cute and he gets nothing for it

42.4

Sammy to Ponting, no run, angling into the batsman who rather nervously shuffles to the off side, defending to leg

42.5

Sammy to Ponting, no run, another cut, again straight into the ground. This is good stuff from Sammy - tying Ponting up

42.6

Sammy to Ponting, no run, defended off the back foot. Good over, that

43.1

Powell to Katich, 1 run, defended, dead to his feet...and West Indies are caught snoozing as the pair steal a single

43.2

Powell to Ponting, no run, pushed out to cover

43.3

Powell to Ponting, no run, good ball which angles into Ponting, but he presents the most solid of defensives

43.4

Powell to Ponting, no run, walks into the most crisp of drives - that went "clunk" off the bat, and only poor placement to mid-off prevented him getting four

43.5

Powell to Ponting, no run, a slower ball - very slow - but it's down the leg side

43.6

Powell to Ponting, no run, short, and Ponting ignores it

Taylor back into the attack. I always forget he's so young, Taylor...still only 23

44.1

Taylor to Katich, 2 runs, absolutely hammered through the covers but even such good timing can't bring him four

44.2

Taylor to Katich, no run

44.3

Taylor to Katich, no run, stuck on the back foot, Katich, but he drove this on the up and absolutely laced it, but again to cover

44.4

Taylor to Katich, no run, short of a length, punched out to cover once more

44.5

Taylor to Katich, no run, well wide, left alone

44.6

Taylor to Katich, no run, well wide, left alone again

45.1

Powell to Ponting, no run, aggressively onto the front foot, he punches it into the off side

45.2

Powell to Ponting, 2 runs, the wrong line here, drifting into his pads and he easily works it through midwicket

45.3

Powell to Ponting, no run, too short. Ponting won't be tempted and just ducks beneath

45.4

Powell to Ponting, no run, much too wide

45.5

Powell to Ponting, FOUR, a dismissive, front-footed slap over midwicket. Ugly, quite arrogant, and he flangs it over the leg side for four to bring up a 96-ball fifty

45.6

Powell to Ponting, no run, sways out of the way of this one

46.1

Taylor to Katich, 1 run, on his legs, Katich steals a single to a snoozing mid-on. There really wasn't a single on there!

46.2

Taylor to Ponting, 1 no ball, walks into another thumpingly solid defensive. He is looking in seriously ominous form

46.2

Taylor to Ponting, 5 wides, miles down the leg side for four! Taylor knocked off the bails when his arm came through which obviously put him off

And that always hurts more than you think, doesn't it?

46.2

Taylor to Ponting, no run, a walking cover drive to short extra

46.3

Taylor to Ponting, no run, clumped to mid-on

46.4

Taylor to Ponting, no run, no need to play those. Too wide

46.5

Taylor to Ponting, 2 runs, beautifully turned through midwicket by Ponting for a couple. Katich wanted three, but Ponting tells him to stop being so utterly daft, and they stick with two

46.6

Taylor to Ponting, no run, half a shout but it's miles down the leg side

Sarwan to turn his arm over

47.1

Sarwan to Katich, no run, starts with a full toss that's banged to mid-off

Tea in seven minutes. Here's Sarwan...oh no it's not. Katich has a problem with the sightscreen, or rather someone's walking in front of it

47.2

Sarwan to Katich, no run, fast and full. Blocked

47.3

Sarwan to Katich, 1 run, nurdled to the leg side

Eight more runs for Ponting's 10,000th in Tests. Yowzers, as Inspector Gadget would say

47.4

Sarwan to Ponting, no run, sweetly timed but very well stopped by a diving short mid-off

47.5

Sarwan to Ponting, no run, patted out to the same fielder

47.6

Sarwan to Ponting, no run, crisply hit to cover

Last over before tea, and it'll be Taylor I think. In the meantime, Will Smith - the Durham batsman - has written an enjoyable piece in his county blog. Have a read.

48.1

Taylor to Katich, 2 runs, short of a length, Katich cuts this out to cover

Again Taylor's hit the stumps with his hand - he's getting in mighty close to the umpire

48.2

Taylor to Katich, 1 leg bye, turned off his legs to square leg

48.3

Taylor to Ponting, no run, smacked back to the bowler and Taylor does very well to prevent the single

48.4

Taylor to Ponting, no run, turned to leg

48.5

Taylor to Ponting, (no ball) 2 runs, too straight, and Ponting clips it neatly to leg

No-ball from Taylor

48.5

Taylor to Ponting, 1 no ball, crisply driven straight to mid-off but it's another no-ball

48.5

Taylor to Ponting, 2 runs, ooh a false shot from Ponting, inside-edge and played down the wrong line, through backward-square

48.6

Taylor to Ponting, no run, wide and left alone

And that's tea. Katich and Ponting head to the pavilion, with the most paltry of crowds watching. There really aren't that many out there - remarkable, really. This is Australia versus West Indies after all. Anyhow, it's been Australia's day so far - join us in 20 minutes for the resumption

Welcome back - here's Sarwan

49.1

Sarwan to Katich, no run, Katich flicks to leg - straight into short-leg's legs. As it were

49.2

Sarwan to Katich, no run, down the leg side

49.3

Sarwan to Katich, 2 runs, again down the leg side, and Katich feathers it down to short fine leg for two. Off the bat, according to the umpire

49.4

Sarwan to Katich, 2 runs, a massive full toss which he bangs to long-on for two

49.5

Sarwan to Katich, no run, nicely flighted from Sarwan. Katich defends

49.6

Sarwan to Katich, no run, drifting down the leg side and it deflects off Katich's hip