First Test ends in washed-out draw With puddles the size of little lakes around the outfield, play was called off without a single ball being bowled on the final day at Guyana. Heavy overnight rain meant that the inevitable draw only came about earlier than expected. Both teams would have been at least a touch relieved that they did not have to toil through a final day when a result was almost impossible. Rahul Dravid, however, may have liked the chance to add 6 to his overnight 144 and bring up 150. Appropriately for the venue, the Guyanese players provided much of the action. Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored personal bests. Ramnaresh Sarwan, compact and elegant in the top-order, made a half-century. Bowling cleverly, Mahendra Nagamootoo troubled several batsmen and ended up with the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. But both teams will carry away positives from this match, and there is everything to play for when they clash at the Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, in Trinidad on April 19.

Ganguly pleased with Indian batting effort The Indians might not have covered themseleves with glory at Guyana, but Sourav Ganguly was not complaining. "I think we batted pretty well in the circumstances," the Indian skipper said, focusing on the lone positive as far the Indians were concerned. "Things were not looking all that bright after we lost a few quick wickets, but the batsmen responded to the challenge and we were still going with almost 400 already on the board in the end." "It was the first Test of the series, and it's always difficult to do well right at the beginning on an away tour because you're not used to the conditions and the wickets. Considering that, we are glad to put this match behind us," he said. "There are a lot of pluses for us on the batting front, and we will be looking to build from here." Ganguly admitted that his side could have done better if they had concentrated harder in the field. Wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta putting down Carl Hooper when the latter had yet to open his account was probably the turning point of the match. "We couldn't capitalise at all when we had them at 44 for three," Ganguly said. "Another wicket at that stage could have changed the course of the entire Test match. It was a good batting wicket, and on such a surface you just have to hold on to whatever chances come your way. Otherwise you will have to pay."

Honours for Hooper Guyana knows how to honour her cricketing sons. No sooner had Carl Hooper made a double hundred than all of Guyana was queueing up to fete him. First the alumni of his former school - Christchurch Secondary School - arrived at the hotel to dispense accolades. The small trophy they awarded overwhelmed Hooper, who went on to recount his days as a school cricketer. "I can never forget Mr Haynes. He was the umpire at most of our matches. Then there was Selvan Ramphal who played with me a lot. Those are some fond memories and can never be erased by time," Hooper reflected. But a bigger honour awaited. The Pegasus Hotel, where the two teams are put up, decided to name one of its suites after Hooper. This places him in elite company, for the other two suites are named after Queen Elizabeth and former American president Jimmy Carter.

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