BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom (AFP) — England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat against the West Indies in the first day/night Test ever staged on English soil at Edgbaston on Thursday.

The hosts had already announced the one change to their side for this first of a three-Test series, with Surrey batsman Mark Stoneman given an England debut in the problem position of opener.

Stoneman replaced the dropped Keaton Jennings, a former team-mate at Durham, in the lone alteration to the team that beat South Africa by 177 runs in the fourth Test at Old Trafford earlier this month to complete a 3-1 series win.

West Indies left out experienced fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who had no-ball problems in last week’s floodlit warm-up match against Derbyshire and was not yet deemed to have regained full fitness following an injury lay-off.

There was no place either for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who took a career-best eight for 49 against Pakistan in the West Indies’ inaugural floodlit Test in Dubai in October.

Miguel Cummins came in to a pace attack also featuring Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and captain Jason Holder.

The West Indies also gave a debut to Kyle Hope, now playing in the same side as brother and fellow batsman Shai Hope.

The West Indies have not won a Test in England since a victory at Edgbaston in 2000.

Thursday’s match is the 50th Test staged at Edgbaston, the Birmingham headquarters of Midlands county Warwickshire.

Teams

England: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Tom Westley, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Moeen Ali, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Kyle Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich (wkt), Jason Holder (capt), Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Miguel Cummins

Umpires: S Ravi (IND), Marais Erasmus (RSA)

TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS)