Sachin who?

Last evening, at the Queens Hotel on Wellington Street, Geoff Boycott celebrated the 30th anniversary of his 100th first-class hundred. One of the invitees, a batsman who’s worn Yorkshire colours, walked to the venue. The most curious bit was how just one onlooker noticed him during his half a mile walk from Crown Plaza Hotel to Queens. Clean shaven and wearing the India blazer he should have been the most recognisable man on Wellington Street. Yet just one, yes one, passer-by greeted him during his walk. Even Sachin Tendulkar does get the odd peaceful walk after all.

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Matthew Hoggard joins the England team at practice in Headingley. He goes through his bowling paces, getting his fitness tested ahead of the Sri Lanka series. At the end of the session he runs into Rahul Dravid near the Long room. “We missed you during the Test series,” grinned Dravid. “I missed you too, mate,” chuckled Hoggard and proceeded to have a long chat on various matters.

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Back to Tendulkar. Walking in for a net session today, he’s faced with Kevin Pietersen zooming across in his Volkswagen Phaeton. Tendulkar gets a minor shock. Now that’s one way of running down your opponent.