Craig White defies India at Motera The tables were turned well and truly on India. After ruling the roost in cool Mohali, they were made to run in the sun at Motera, Ahmedabad. In hot conditions, Nasser Hussain elected to bat first and put on a healthy 407, keeping India on the field for four minutes short of 10 hours. England took the honours on the first two days of play in the second Test. After a strong beginning, where Mark Butcher (51) and Marcus Trescothick (99) put England in a commanding position, Anil Kumble struck with his topspinners and googlies, scalping 7/115 from a mammoth 51 overs. Craig White, coming in at number seven, smashed 121, further rubbing salt in Indian wounds. The Yorkshireman notched up his first Test ton and impressed fans with his strokeplay. At the end of the second day, however, India had begun their reply, ending on 71/2. Tomorrow is another day, and thousands of fans at Ahmedabad will throng Motera in the hope of watching some vintage Indian batting.

Tresco makes his mark as Thorpe heads home There are many cruel things that can happen to you in the game of cricket, but few are more so than being dismissed for 99. That was exactly what happened to Marcus Trescothick in Ahmedabad. But he remained calm and composed. "I am playing well enough to get the big scores. I thought today would be the day. I felt secure at the crease and was concentrating really well," said Trescothick. "It happens to the best cricketers. There are phases when you do not get the hundreds. Then you might have a run of form where you score four hundreds on the trot, like I did last summer for Somerset. I am not too fussed, really. I just want to keep working hard, batting well, and I know that I will bounce back pretty quickly," he said, on an optimistic note. And then there was the unfortunate matter of Graham Thorpe's withdrawal and return home. Trescothick appeared genuinely concerned, as one would expect of a fellow player, and had these words to say. "We wish him well and give him all the support he needs. He was our best player in the tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, so we will miss him here. But he has got problems to sort out back home in England, and we are behind him." Thorpe will certainly be missed, and one can only hope that the talented left-hander will be back in action soon. His departure, meanwhile, will put more pressure on the likes of Trescothick. At Motera, 'Banger,' as he is known for his love of sausages, delivered the goods.

The BCCI secretary show at Motera Indian cricket politics is often followed with as much vigour and enthusiasm in newspapers as the cricket itself. With tours being proposed, negotiated, finalised and then cancelled, there is always much to look out for. While Board presidents themselves are a bit too high-and-mighty to be mingling freely with the masses, Board secretaries have no such airs. On the second day's play at Motera, Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, told pressmen, much to the relief of players, that the proposed one-day series in Bangadesh (January 4 -14) was off. This gives players a chance to get some well-earned rest before the limited-overs games against England start. What made the situation far more enjoyable, however, was the arrival of Jaywant Lele, former Board secretary, shortly after the departure of Shah. Lele, ever quotable and ever denying, is a favourite with the press. He may not be secretary any more, but his popularity sure hasn't diminished!

Nasser Hussain on our candid cameras. Catch the charismatic captain at his man-managing best in our Whattashot feature. Click Here Marcus Trescothick speaks to the press and underplays his disappointment at missing his century. Click Here Should John Wright's contract as Indian coach be extended? Get both sides of the argument in our Third Umpire feature. Click Here