POWELL - file

LONDON, CMC

West Indies fast bowler Daren Powell said yesterday the regional side had not bowled to plan and had wasted the advantage of the new ball.

England, batting after West Indies won the toss, reached 200 for three at the close of the opening day of the first Test of the four-match series at Lord's.

"We strayed from the plan this morning when we started to bowl. We bowled both sides of the wicket and that put us on the backfoot," Powell told reporters.

"After the lunch break, we sat down and analysed the situation and came out and got things right and we got success for it.

"We didn't use the new ball as well as we should. When you win a toss and put the opposition in to bat, you want to pick up wickets with the new ball early. We didn't do that."

Alastair Cook capitalised on the Windies' wayward bowling to compile 102 from 173 balls with nine fours.

He added 88 for the first wicket with captain Andrew Strauss who scored 33, as England dominated the morning session in bowler friendly conditions.

"I won't say nerves was the reason why we did not bowl well and I don't want to blame it on lack of practice because we're all professionals," the 29-year old armer said.

"I think we weren't hitting the targets as often as we should. We were all over the place. The captain and coach spoke and we as players made a decision and stuck with it.

"If you don't put the ball in the right areas, batsmen are going to find it easy to get runs like this morning. It is just a matter of putting the thoughts of the slope (at Lord's) behind and focus on the task at hand."

After being outplayed in the morning session, Powell managed to pull West Indies back into the game with a couple of wickets after lunch.

He first removed the left-handed Strauss to a catch at point by Devon Smith and then had Owais Shah caught at third slip, again by Smith.