England enjoy 'practice' session

LONDON - England indulged in an extended practice session at the expense of a willing but inadequate Bangladesh attack on the first day of the opening Test of the English summer on Thursday.

Shakib Al Hassan's decision to ask the home side to bat was ostensibly based on the assistance his pace bowlers would draw from the heavy cloud cover and a sprinkling of overnight rain.

It was also probably influenced by fears his fragile batting lineup would be cruelly exposed by the England pace attack.