India hold out for a draw at Trent Bridge Significant contributions from Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly ensured that India drew the second Test at Trent Bridge. On the fifth morning, Dravid and Tendulkar continued to bat with easy assurance and build on their overnight partnership of 88. The duo had put on 163 runs, Tendulkar making 92 of these, before Michael Vaughan castled the little master with an off-spinner that would have done Prasanna proud. In the company of Sourav Ganguly, Dravid, though, went on to post his 11th Test ton, his first on English soil. But after a well-made 115, he too made his way back to the pavilion. Fortunately for India, Ganguly was in top form. The Indian captain made 99 while guiding India to 378 for 6 before falling to Steve Harmison. At that stage, England had an outside chance to win the match. The Indian lower-order, probably inspired by their seniors, however, showed some spine to snuff out the home team's hopes and salvage a draw.

Akhtar: India-Pakistan cricket should be on India and Pakistan might not be meeting on the cricketing field these days but the players of the two countries continue to maintain an excellent rapport. To quote but an instance, Pakistan speed merchant Shoaib Akhtar, who was in Trent Bridge the other day, spend the little time he had after finishing a shoot with England's Channel Four in meeting the Indian players. The way Akhtar wandered across to Harbhajan Singh and embraced the latter left nobody in doubt about the warmth that existed between the players of the teams. "There's no problem between the players of our teams. We get on very well. I met all the Indians today and it was good to catch up with them. There's a lot we have in common. We watch so many Hindi films in Pakistan - probably more than you even," he said. Friends they might all be, but there would be nothing Akhar would savour more than a chance to be at the throats of the Indian batsmen. "India-Pakistan cricket should be on. It is THE series we all look forward to," he said, referring to a topic that occupies the interest of a majority of fans from the two countries. Asked about the new Indian pace attack, Akhtar felt that despite their poor showing in England until now the two left-arm seamers had it in them to be top-class bowlers. "Zaheer Khan looks sharp. He has good pace and importantly, the right attitude for a fast bowler. Nehra too moves the ball well and is promising. They both have the potential to become world-class bowlers," he said. Sadly for the touring Indians, there was, though, hardly any evidence of this from the pair in question. Although Zaheer Khan redeemed himself by bowling well in patches, Nehra proved to be a complete disappointment at Trent Bridge.

Lancashire sign Harbhajan Singh for 2003 The Indian players suddenly seem to be making a beeline for county cricket. First it was Javagal Srinath. Then, Mohammad Kaif too followed suit. And now it can be confirmed that Harbhajan Singh would also be plying his wares in England in 2003. Mike Watkinson, the Lancashire cricket manager, while announcing the signing of the star spinnner, said: "We are delighted to have secured the services of one of the world's leading spin bowlers. Hopefully, his talents will be the perfect foil for our crop of very promising young pace bowlers." Harbhajan, though, might not be last Indian player to sign up with an English county for the 2003 season. Virender Sehwag might in all likelihood become Sussex's overseas player while Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are also reported to be keen on having another dash at county cricket.

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