Windies bowl out Essex for 263
The West Indies had a fairly satisfying opening day at Essex of their three-day match at Chelmsford, bowling out the home side for 363 and losing the wicket of opener Devon Smith to reach 24 for 1 at the close.
In sunny conditions, the tourists made an early breakthrough with Baker taking the wicket of Gallian without a run on the board.
A partnership between Test opener Alastair Cook who had a successful tour of the West Indies and Chopra took the score to 87 with Chopra falling for 50.
Cook, who is returning to competition after a finger injury, was next to go being well caught in the slips by Smith off Sammy with the score on 102.
There was a partnership of 66, for the fourth wicket, between Mickleburgh, who topscored with 58, and Foster before Baker bowled Foster for 23.
Wickets, thereafter, fell at regular intervals with Baker taking 2 for 39 and Jamaican paceman Andrew Richardson also grabbing 2 for 51.
Darren Sammy, the only bowler with experience of English conditions had figures of 1 for 32 with his military medium pace and surprise weapon middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine snapped up 3 for 32.
Smith and Dale Richards opened the West Indies’ innings with Smith falling for 13 at stumps.
Denesh Ramdin, who is leading the West Indies in the absence of Chris Gayle, sat out this match.
Lendl Simmons, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Deonarine , Brendan Nash and Dave Bernard Jr are the other recognised batsmen in the team.
The First Test will take place at Lords from May 6-10 before which time Gayle and fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who are both campaigning in the India Premier League 20-20 competition in South Africa are expected to return.