Discourses on the sweep shot Psychological warfare is an expected cog of the modern game, and experts such as Steve Waugh have even taken it to the level of an art form. But Sourav Ganguly may have set new precedent through his recent remarks prior to the start of the first Test at Nagpur. In response to remarks from the Zimbabwe camp that they planned to use the reverse-sweep as efficiently as England in the recent past, Ganguly predicted that the move would not be very successful. Stuart Carlisle told a news conference on Wednesday that Ganguly would do well to keep his advice to himself. "Sourav is trying to tell Andy (Flower) how to bat basically. We'll wait and see," he said. Ganguly, himself in unenviably poor form, then tried to play down the issue, saying, "I have only said that it will be difficult reverse-sweeping Anil Kumble." Flower, as it turned out, was dismissed for 3 and did not get much chance to pull out his pet shot.

Das century lays foundation for strong Indian reply The second day's play began badly for India, the Zimbabwean tail wagging merrily and pushing the score to 287. Travis Friend was the party-pooper-in-chief, making an unbeaten 60. As the day proceeded, however, things looked up for the home side. Opener Shiv Sunder Das made his second Test ton, Rahul Dravid made an unbeaten 57, and India reached 209/2 - still 88 behind. Das (105) has made sure that Zimbabwe are on the back foot already. Unfortunately, he chopped left-arm spinner Ray Price to Alistair Campbell at slip just before the close of play. Dravid played according to his place in the side, just waiting for the loose ball. Zimbabwe, unable to attack on this wicket, made the mistake of straying on the pads far too often and were duly punished. Deep Dasgupta (39), who did not have a particularly good time behind the stumps, contributed solidly with the bat. Never one to score very quickly, Dasgupta had just one departure from dourness when he stepped down the track and hit Price straight back over his head for a six. His knock was ended by the only spinner in the Zimbabwe team. Surprising Dasgupta, Price floated in an arm ball, the batsman shouldered arms and watched in amazement as the ball clipped the off-stump. But between the dismissals of Dasgupta and Das lay almost a whole day of attrition. With Tendulkar at the crease, you can be sure that there will be a full house baying for boundaries. Whether the little master will oblige or not depends on how tidily Zimbabwe can bowl. If the bowling on the second day is anything to go by, Nagpur can be sure that the advertising hoardings on the boundary ropes will take a bit of a pounding.

Tendulkar at the Lord's Rival batsmen around the world envy Sachin Tendulkar for his heaven-sent talents, and the little master himself is wise enough to recognise the source of his skills. On the occasion of "Rishi Poornima" one day before the start of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Nagpur, the devotees at the famous Tekdi Ganesh temple could not have helped being distracted as Tendulkar arrived to offer his prayers. But the batsman himself tried as much as possible to avoid diverting the crowd’s attention from the deity, refusing to oblige people gathered around him after completing the routine 'pooja.' The Lord would no doubt have been pleased with his humility, so if Tendulkar prayed for a big score at Nagpur, it may soon be the turn of Zimbabwe’s bowlers to start visiting a few temples themselves.

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