Is a cricket star born?

Another cricket talent hunt is going ahead in India. Hot on the heels of Scorpion Speedster, which aimed to find a fast bowler, is Cricket Star. This time the reward (if you can call it that) will be a professional contract with Leicestershire.

The deal has marketing wheeze written all over it, as Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, appeared to confirm. When asked why the board had linked up with Investors In Cricket, the company who are promoting the competition, Shah said: "They are paying us." Can’t argue with that, really. But watch out England and Pakistan – plans are afoot to roll out the competition to these countries, too.