Today 2..

The spectators had hardly settled in their seats, the scorer in the press box was yet to write down the names of the Indian opening batsmen and the media was in the process of opening their laptops when suddenly, Bangladesh pace spearhead Mashrafe Mortaza made a dash towards the point boundary. His teammates were running after him but he was unstoppable.

Amit Gupta's first day match report

In the pre-match interaction with the media on Thursday, Indian captain Rahul Dravid had said that he would like to keep the final XI as surprise while disclosing that the team would perhaps go in with five bowlers at the Bir Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium for the first test.

Amit Gupta on the Laxman exclusion.

“No matter what Dr Wallace suggests, we now want Manoj to go back to Mumbai and again consult Dr Joshi. Whether Dr Wallace suggests surgery in London or not, Manoj should finally seek the opinion of the Board’s own doctor — after all, he represents the Board which will give the final certificate on his fitness,” a visibly-concerned senior CAB functionary told The Indian Express this evening.

Nadim Siraj reports.Is this for real?

Then, of course, is the larger question: three injuries already, a packed schedule, will India be able to come up with 11 fit cricketers by the time they take the field in Australia this December?

Ajay S Shankar on India's fitness worries.

In cricket-crazy Chittagong, you don’t really need to be inside the stadium to know which way the game is swinging. All you have to do is keep an eye on this giant tree just outside the white, scarred wall, square off the wicket.

Ajay S Shankar's first day match report.

After India’s debacle at the World Cup, cricket is not what it used to be for advertisers, and therefore, for broadcasters. Those who pay big money to ride on popular telecasts are seeking rebates and wondering how they will recover huge amounts paid to win broadcast rights. A TV ad that goes with cricket usually costs Rs 4 to 5 lakhs per 10 seconds.

Gurbir Singh reports

Mumbai, May 18: Catching an evening local from Dadar, dripping in sweat and a kit bag over her shoulders, 19-year-old Sneha Warge gets ready to leave for home, after she's spent a rather tough session facing wannabe fast bowlers at the Shivaji Park nets.

Devendra Pandey on womens cricket in Mumbai.

Yet Calcutta never got a chance to watch the two old favourites firm up India in the first Test at Chittagong today, lifting the team to 295 for three at stumps on the first day with an undefeated stand of 163.

Doordarshan didn’t show the game apparently because it felt the fans wouldn’t be interested. Neither did the cable operators tie up with Neo Sports, which was beaming the game. TataSky said Neo Sports was “not available” with it.

Nilesh Bhattacharya on the Sachin Saurav partnership.

In a first ever for Bengal cricket, ex-player Satrajit Lahiri today achieved a unique feat, becoming the state’s only Ranji Trophy panel umpire to also become a qualified Level III certified coach.

Yay!

The way Bangladesh team trudged back to the dressing room after end the play, it gave clear indication as to how tough their return to Test cricket after thirteen months has been at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium yesterday.

View from the other side.

In cricket, perhaps more than any other game, there are times when your patriotism for the nation that bore you is overtaken by patriotism for the greater nation of cricket. It felt like that as I watched England seizing an inexorable control over the first npower Test match at Lord’s. It wasn’t the fact that they gained a decisive advantage; it was that they did so without playing terribly well.

Simon Barnes on the Windies decline.

Graeme Smith has undergone surgery on his left knee and now faces a careful period of rehab before he will be considered for a return to action.