A perfect pitch

The stats say Brian Lara scores a century every eight Tests - this was number nine © Getty Images

For the first time in this unpredictable series - albeit for two sessions - today went how everyone predicted at the start of the tour. Bowlers struggling, batsmen booming boundaries on a belter of a pitch - that was supposed to happen all along. It finally did, even though it came too late for West Indies.

Perhaps the West Indian board should have arranged the Antigua Test first. By far the slowest track of the four in this series, this is what the Windies are used to, and what they like. Where Jamaica jagged around, Trinidad teased and tested, and Barbados bounced about, Antigua was angelic for the batsmen. Just ask Chris Gayle, who, after a quiet start, raced to his half-century in his trademark typhoon style, repeatedly cracking the ball through the offside. Only he will know how he popped one back to Gareth Batty on the stroke of lunch.

The Recreation ground has a history of high scores, understandable with its true pitch, torpedo outfield and tiny boundaries. In 2002, West Indies played India here in what was the ultimate bore draw of all time. Over the five days, well over 1000 runs were scored, and neither side had a second innings. There were 11 centurions (five were batsmen and six bowlers) and the entire Indian XI had a bowl. On this ground last year, against Australia, West Indies chased a record 418 to record a memorable victory. And, of course, Brian Lara set a record of his own at St John's against England in 1994. It's unlikely this game will be over in three days.

During this series, Michael Vaughan boasted that he had a flexible attack to suit all conditions. But even though they didn't perform that badly, the bowlers were all lacking that bit of spark today. Stephen Harmison was not himself, even when he changed ends to escape the attentions of Aleem Dar. Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones bowled too short, and Andrew Flintoff toiled hard, but with little bite. As the ball got softer - luckily for Ramnaresh Sarwan, who copped one from Batty in the box - keeping control over the batsmen became increasingly harder. What a difference a pitch makes.

Before this Test, England were due a bad day, and Lara was seriously overdue a big score. His stats say he scores a century every eight Tests, and this was number nine. He showed signs of returning to form in Barbados, and today he confirmed it. It had to happen some time. While the likes of Harmison were itching to aim the ball right at him in the previous three Tests, England were forced to bowl wide of Lara just to stop him scoring.

The pitch helped him, and so did the fact that a jaded England already have the series under their belt. But Vaughan will have to come up with a plan to get rid of Lara tomorrow if the red-, whiteand bluewash is to stay on track.