Curtly Ambrose wrote his name into cricketing record books with a devastating display to dig the West Indies out of a hole against England at Headingley.

Ambrose dispatched Michael Atherton lbw yesterday to book his place in cricket's hall of fame as only the fifth bowler in history to reach 400 Test wickets.

Nasser Hussain posted his most significant score of the Test summer which went some way to justifying his place as number three batsman.

Without a score of note this side of the Millennium and clinging on to his treasured spot in the batting order Hussain had to deliver in the fourth Test to prevent the pressure building to unbearable proportions.

Like most of his Test innings this year which have totalled just 125 runs from 10 attempts Hussain looked uncomfortable and suffered a torrid start to his 116-minute stay at the crease as England replied to West Indies' lowly 172.

He was finally trapped lbw for 22 but played a valuable part in a 70-run third-wicket partnership which should see him retain the third batters spot.

His effort looked to have given England the advantage until a late burst of three for eight in 28 balls from Courtney Walsh left England trailing by 67 at the close on 105 for five.

Hussain arrived at the crease in mid-afternoon after Ambrose had claimed an early success by inducing Marcus Trescothick into edging to Brian Lara at first slip to leave England struggling on seven for one.

The scale of England's task on an inconsistent Headingley surface was underlined when Ambrose struck again two overs later to dismiss Atherton.

Most of the 10,000 strong Leeds crowd were expecting another early exit from Hussain and he was lucky to get off the mark when he was turned by a lifting Ambrose delivery which he edged through the slip cordon for two.

The ball crashed into his right index finger which required treatment from physiotherapist Dean Conway.

Ambrose and Walsh, though, are no longer able to bowl long spells and once they had been replaced by Reon King and Nixon McLean, Hussain and Thorpe seized on the opportunity to score quickly and freely.

Instead of the batsman who had played and missed three times in one Ambrose over, Hussain started to regain his confidence and struck two boundaries off King.

The West Indies turned again to Walsh and his experience of English conditions swung the match firmly back in their direction when he struck to have Hussain lbw pushing only half forward.

Hussain was followed by Thorpe lbw playing across his pad just four runs short of a deserved half-century, to leave England facing a tense six overs before the close.

Inevitably, Walsh struck again in his next over when Stewart pushed tentatively forward and edged to the right of Sherwin Campbell at second slip, who dived superbly to take the catch.

That England were batting at all on the opening day was largely due to the pace, bounce and movement generated by Craig White, who earned career-best figures of five for 57 in his first ever Test at his Headingley home.

Just 10 weeks ago, White had suffered a worrying blackout which affected his outlook to life and finally enabled him to deliver at the top level, six years after making his Test debut. His knowledge of the Headingley surface and the pace he can generate with an old ball proved invaluable to England and he produced his best ever Test performance to leave West Indies relying on Ramnaresh Sarwan to post a respectable total.

White, who claimed five for 57, confessed: ''Three months ago I was contemplating life without cricket, and now to come out an take five wickets in a Test for your country, what can you say?

''I think it has definitely changed my philosophy.

"At the time I thought I wasn't going to play again, and I now I turn out more relaxed."

Fellow Yorkshireman Darren Gough claimed two early wickets to dismiss openers Campbell and Adrian Griffith, but after that it was White who posed the biggest threat and claimed the scalps of Wavell Hinds, Lara and Jimmy Adams in a 17-ball spell.

At 60 for five, West Indies were struggling to pass 100 after deciding to bat first knowing that the surface was likely to deteriorate as the match progressed.

Sarwan made a mockery of his senior colleagues' hesitancy and uncertainty to stamp his authority on the series with a superb 59 off just 82 balls including nine boundaries.

But the 20-year-old's hopes of marking Headingley as the venue for his maiden Test century were ended when he ran out of partners and left Ambrose and Walsh to enjoy another fruitful day against the English batsmen.

l England's Under-19s gained a convincing victory over Sri Lanka in the first Under-19 Test at Trent Bridge.

Warwickshire pace bowler Kabir Ali took 4-49 as the tourists were skittled out for 184 in their second innings and slump to a heavy defeat by an innings and 22 runs with a day to spare.

NatWest Under 19 Test Trent Bridge: Sri Lanka Under 19 211 (J Mubarak 54, T J Murtagh 4-29) & 184 (Kabir Ali 4-49) v England Under 19 417 (P D Trego 90, G J Pratt 75, I R Bell 72, Kadeer Ali 59, S H T Kandamby 4-75)