IT looks like the West Indies have finally come to the party at Old Trafford, and England are no longer having it their own way!

It seemed like it would be business as usual when Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan took England to 117-1, but a mid-order collapse has given the West Indies hope of skittling England cheaply.

However, it is situations like these that we find out if Matt Prior is capable of being England's permanent wicket-keeper batsman.

Prior played majestically when he cracked a hundred in the First Test, but the pressure was off when he came to the crease at 363-5. The acid test comes in situations like the one he found himself in yesterday when England were 166-5.

And, Prior has restored the balance with 60 runs in a partnership of 98 with Ian Bell. In complete contrast to his run-a-ball century at Lord's, Prior showed he can play an equally effective grafting game.

It is great to see a more keenly fought contest this time out, because runs in these situations really are appreciated by spectators.

The West Indies bowlers, in particular Denzel Washington look-a-like Corey Collymore, have bowled in the right areas and have been rewarded with wickets. Unfortunately, Kevin Pietersen got himself out with a poor shot that epitomises his game - he gets himself out more often with slack shots than the bowler does with great deliveries.