When streakers ran amok

At the start of play, most of the spectators took a while to enter the ground. They were packed in outside but “security measures” meant they all needed to be checked before getting in. At the start of the second innings, though, a group of highly-enthusiastic streakers ran amok in the West Stand and it took a while for the security men to drive them out. How inefficient they’d been. They took so long and couldn’t spot the streakers in the pack.

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There are rumours that the first one-dayer at the Rose Bowl might get some coverage in the Indian papers tomorrow. The rest of the pages are set to be filled by developments related to the Indian Cricket League (ICL). England, though, appears largely unaware of all these earth-shattering events. One of the scribes saw the name Ali Murtaza in the list and said, ‘Some Bangladeshis signed up as well?’ Well, actually our dear Mashrafe hasn’t signed up – not as yet, at least – but Ali, the young Uttar Pradesh batsman. Such confusion.

** Having gone missing all day, the sun came out at around 7:10 this evening. Immediately Gautam Gambhir nicked to the wicketkeeper. It was James Anderson’s 100th one-day wicket. The sun won’t be mentioned in the scorecard but it sure deserves credit.