England [Images] captain Andrew Strauss [Images] put the disastrous first Test behind him and struck 169 to lead England to an impressive 301 for three at stumps on the first day of the third Test.

Strauss was ably assisted by Alastair Cook [Images] (52) and Owais Shah [Images] (57) as England bounced back from their mauling in Kingston [Images] to put themselves in a strong position at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

West Indies [Images] won the first Test of the series in Jamaica by an innings after bowling England out for 51 in their second innings.

After all the problems with the ground in Antigua, resulting in the second Test being abandoned, that defeat felt a long time ago but no doubt the batting collapse remained in the minds of the upper order.

It took just one and a half sessions for England to show that they are a much better side than the one that surrendered so meekly at Sabina Park.

"We've had a hard couple of weeks. After being bowled out 51 in the last Test you want to come out and play positively and prove to everyone that as a batting unit we have a lot of good players.

"In that respect it's very satisfying," he said.

After batting all day, with 24 fours and a big six to bring up England's hundred, Strauss looked well set to continue his innings into the second day but a tired attempted pull shot near the close resulted in a simple caught and bowled for Fidel Edwards.

The game at the Antigua Recreation Ground had been hastily arranged following the abandonment of the second test Friday after just ten balls, when the field at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium was deemed unfit.

The replacement venue, the traditional home of test matches on the island, provided a more intimate and authentic Caribbean cricket atmosphere and a wicket that offered plenty for strokeplayers.

After rain delayed the start by 45 minutes, England made just the kind of start they needed, bringing up 40 in the first eleven overs and forcing West Indies skipper Chris Gayle [Images] to turn to spin before lunch.

Jerome Taylor [Images], who had ripped through England's top order in Kingston, was far less of a threat against the sturdy Strauss.

The largely English crowd in a ground that had been rapidly turned from a training venue into a test match facility, made a point of applauding as England passed the 51 mark.

There was a nostalgic feel to the game with the ramshackle stands, old-fashioned West Indian food stands and an absence of giant screens and umpire referrals.

But there was also something in England's display that recalled the past.

In 1994, England bounced back from a humiliating low score - 46 in Trinidad - to score 355 and 394 as they won by 208 runs with Alec Stewart commanding with two centuries.

Strauss has helped his team to achieve at least the first part of that performance - bouncing back from the potentially confidence-shattering defeat.

Fellow opener Alastair Cook helped put on 123 for the first wicket before Cook went caught by Devon Smith off Chris Gayle's off-spin for 52.

Strauss had survived a scare when he was dropped by Gayle at slip off Suliemen Benn.

Then Owais Shah, drafted in for Ian Bell [Images], struck a confident 57 off 100 balls before he was run out looking for a quick single.

After Strauss's departure nightwatchman James Anderson [Images] (3 not out) saw out the final overs of the evening with Kevin Pietersen [Images] (8 not out).

Scorecard

England (1st innings):
A. Strauss c & b Edwards 169
A. Cook c Smith b Gayle 52
O. Shah run out 57
K. Pietersen not out 8
J. Anderson not out 3
Extras: (b-6, w-1, nb-5)12
Total: (three wickets; 92 overs)   301

Fall of wickets: 1-123, 2-276, 3-295

To bat: P.Collingwood, A.Flintoff, M. Prior, S.Broad, G.Swann, S.Harmison.

Bowling: Taylor 15-3-37-0 (1-nb), Edwards 15-2-41-1 (3-nb, 1-w), Powell 11-2-40-0, Gayle 12-1-35-1, Benn 17-2-62-0 (1-nb), Hinds 15-2-59-0, Nash 7-2-21-0

West Indies: Chris Gayle (captain), Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan [Images], Ryan Hinds, Shivnarine Chanderpaul [Images], Brendan Nash [Images], Denesh Ramdin (wk), Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Daren Powell [Images], Fidel Edwards.