Cricket finally returned after a 117-day hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but not without numerous pauses and frustration for the players on Day One of the first Test between England and West Indies at the Ageas Bowl here on Wednesday.

England's stand-in captain Ben Stokes won the toss following a rain delay and opted to bat, but just three overs were possible before the weather intervened again. And when play eventually started, England lost Dom Sibley off the 10th ball of the day, clean bowled by Shannon Gabriel's beautiful in-swinger.

England were 0-1, but later moved on to 35-1 when, after two more rain stoppages, bad light forced an early tea despite floodlights being in operation.