Shannon Gabriel led a much-improved West Indies bowling effort as England struggled to 156 for six at tea on the first day of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.
Joe Root, the England captain, equalled AB de Villiers's record for the most consecutive Test fifties but fell soon afterwards for 59. Ben Stokes, dropped on nine, was 45 not out and Moeen Ali three not out.
The West Indies were widely castigated for an inept all- round display during an innings and 209-run defeat inside three days in the inaugural day/night Test in Britain at Edgbaston last week that saw them go 1-0 down in this three- match series.
But fast bowler Gabriel (two for 38 in 15 overs) and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (one for 27 in six), recalled in two changes to the team that played in Birmingham, were both in the wickets on Friday.
The West Indies would have been in an even stronger position but for their ongoing poor fielding which saw both Root (8) and Stokes dropped the slips while both in single figures.
Gabriel had bowled 24 no-balls in a pink-ball warm-up fixture against Derbyshire prior to the first Test.
But back in standard hours and with the red ball at his disposal, the fast bowler found conditions far more to his liking in leeds. Indeed the West Indies attack as a whole responded well to captain Jason Holder's calls for greater bowling discipline after England had piled up 514 for eight declared at Edgbaston, with Cook making 243 and Root 136.
Top-order slump
By contrast, left-hander Cook, England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, fell for 11 on Friday after edging Gabriel low to third slip Kyle Hope.
Both Tom Westley and Mark Stoneman were looking for runs to cement their places ahead of an upcoming Ashes tour of Australia.
But they were each dismissed cheaply Friday.
Westley, an Essex team-mate of Cook, was plumb lbw to Kemar Roach for three after being struck on the back leg.
Stoneman then exited for 19, caught behind off an inside edge against Roach.
England should have been 44 for four when Root nicked Gabriel only for Kieran Powell to drop the routine chance at first slip.