Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara struck confident centuries to lift England to a commanding 302 for two on the first day of the second and final Test against West Indies on Thursday. The pair shared a second-wicket partnership of 213 to give England a perfect start in its bid to clinch the series, Cook reaching the close unbeaten on 126 after Bopara fell for 108. Cook and Andrew Strauss put together an untroubled first-wicket partnership of 69 before the captain, on 26, gloved a catch down the leg side to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin as he tried to sweep a ball from opposite number Chris Gayle. Cook and Bopara, the Essex teammates, patiently took the score to 184 for one at tea and reached their centuries in the final session. Cook got there first, clouting Sulieman Benn through mid-wicket for his 11th four and Bopara lofted the left-arm spinner over long-on for six before passing three figures for the third Test innings in a row. Bopara was bowled just before the close, seamer Lionel Baker making the ball nip back off the seam to beat the right-hander's tired defensive prod. Nightwatchman James Anderson survived the last four overs with relative ease and England will look to push on to a huge total on the second day. Symonds gets contract Australia has given troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds a contract for the 2009-2010 season but dropped injury-prone paceman Shaun Tait from its list of 25 contracted players. Contracted players: Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, Phil Hughes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Shaun Marsh, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
