For the first time in India an intriguing contest between left and right-handers gets underway in the Timex Challenge at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday

The Board working committee's momentous decision in New Delhi on Tuesday to throw down the gauntlet before the Government vis-a-vis the prickly issue of playing Pakistan was not on the listed agenda of the meeting, taking many by surprise

Board Secretary Jaywant Lele announced a list of 25 probables for India's forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe at the GSFC ground in Baroda on Sunday

To score a century in your maiden first class innings is a rare enought feat

When Nayan Mongia, after playing 40 Tests in a row from his debut against Sri Lanka at Lucknow in 1993/94, was dropped for the home series against New Zealand in October 1999, it marked the beginning of a chaotic period behind the wickets for India

When Dinanath Ramnarine and Neil McGarell bowled in tandem against South Africa at Antigua last week, it was the first time in twenty five years that West Indies had the cheek to play two specialist spinners

But what good came of it at last

In February 2000, South Africa ended India's proud record of being unbeaten in a Test series at home for 13 years

When Sachin Tendulkar strolled the single that advanced him into an elite but singularly lonely club of one, he kept his emotions tightly in check

Saurav Ganguly came into the Test series against Australia shooting from the hip

Rahul Dravid's knock of 80 at almost run-a-ball against Australia at Bangalore suggests that a keen desire to make runs may have finally outweighed his obsession over technique

India are getting into the habit of upsetting Australian winning streaks

Sadagopan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das passed a minor landmark at Chennai the other day, gathering their first 100 partnership in six Tests

In the end it was an anti-climax

All the protagonists, with two major exceptions, are back in Chennai for the Tied Test rematch 15 years after the original contest

Having been forced to follow on against Australia at Kolkata, there were few realistic expectations of India saving the Test on the third day

Ever since Jim Laker opened up a scar in the Australian batting psyche in the summer of 1956, the spectre of right arm finger spin has loomed large over the Aussies down the tunnel of time

Legendary Indian off spinner Erapalli Prasanna watched Harbhajan Singh create history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian to take a Test match hat trick in the course of a remarkable spell against Australia at Kolkata

The sprawling Eden Gardens has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Aussies

Going into the second Test against Australia, India face the familiar dilemma of whether to play six batsmen and four bowlers or five batsmen and five bowlers