WI vs ENG: England struggles to 71-3 at lunch against West Indies

Bridgetown, Barbados: England stumbled to 71 for three at lunch after winning the toss and batting on the first day of the third and final test against the West Indies on Friday.

At the interval at Kensington Oval, captain Alastair Cook was 31 and Joe Root, a century-maker in England's nine-wicket win in the second test, was on 19. England leads the series 1-0.

England's problems began off the ninth ball when opener Jonathan Trott fended a short delivery from fast bowler Shannon Gabriel to square-leg. It was Trott's third 0 in five innings — his first series since withdrawing from the squad during England's tour of Australia in November 2013.

Jason Holder then dismissed Gary Ballance and Ian Bell in successive overs with the total on 38.

Ballance, 18, had his middle stump uprooted by the ball after gaining the benefit of a close leg before wicket appeal. Holder struck again when he clutched a two-handed return catch off a drive from Bell, who didn't score.

Cook had one narrow escape when he played left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul on the half-volley to short-leg. Otherwise, he batted comfortably through the two hour session.

Root was quickly into the form that brought him his unbeaten 182 in the second test. Another half-century by Root would equal a test record of seven successive scores over 50.

England kept its winning XI from the second test.

West Indies brought back fast bowler Jerome Taylor, fit again after a sore shoulder kept him out of the second test, for Kemar Roach, and gave a first test cap to batsman Shai Hope instead of opener Devon Smith.

Permaul was picked as leg-spinner to replace Davendra Bishoo, who sustained a blistered finger on his bowling hand after sending down 59 overs in the second test.